Once your child has celebrated their first birthday, they can visit our Asheville dentist office for their very first dentist appointment. Dr. Merrell is dedicated to making sure our youngest patients have a fun, positive experience during their dentist appointments.  We want to build the foundation for a lifetime of healthy smiles for your child!

Baby teeth, also called primary teeth, are SO IMPORTANT!  They help your child chew and speak normally.  They hold space in the jaws for the adult teeth to come in later.  It is very important to take good care of your child’s baby teeth because if they have to be removed too soon, your child’s facial structure may not develop properly.  The American Dental Association recommends that all children by age 8 receive an orthodontic evaluation.  Dr. Merrell keeps a close eye on how your child’s jaws are developing and how your child’s teeth are erupting.  Dr. Merrell evaluates your child for lip and tongue ties that can affect feeding and speech.  She also evaluates tonsils and asks parents about snoring to ensure your child is getting adequate air at night and restful sleep.  Sleep disturbances can affect behavior and performance in the classroom as well as your child’s overall health.  Lastly, she evaluates the teeth for cavities and infections that can make your child sick.

Parent’s Pro-Tip Corner

You can prevent decay in baby teeth!

Other than water, sugar is in almost everything else that a baby drinks, including breast milk and formula.  When baby teeth are in contact with liquids that contain sugar, decay can start.

Pacifiers:

  • Don’t put a pacifier or spoon in your mouth before giving it to your child. Decay-causing bacteria that’s in your mouth can be passed to them.
  • Don’t dip a pacifier or nipple of a bottle in anything sweet.
  • Also look for dentists and orthodontist approved pacifiers.  Pacifiers and finger sucking can impact the way your child’s maxilla or top jaw develops leading to multiple malocclussions or bites that require a specialist to help correct.

Sucking Habits:

  • Many infants and young children like to suck on thumbs, fingers, and pacifiers.  Sucking is a natural reflex and is necessary for feeding.  However, long-term sucking habits can cause problems.  Their teeth may not grow in straight and their mouth may not develop correctly.  
  • Sucking habits usually stop between the ages of 2 and 4.  If your child uses a pacifier or sucks their fingers, talk to your dentist about how to get your child off this habit.  If the sucking continues, ask your child’s dentist or pediatrician about other ways to discourage it.

Bottles, Sipping and Snacking:

  • Don’t give your baby fruit juice (even 100% juice) until after they turn 1 year old.
  • Don’t let your child sip on sugary liquids all day.  Limit sugary liquids and sweets to mealtimes.
  • Never put your child to bed with a bottle or training cup.
  • Avoid giving your child sugary, chewy, sticky foods like candy, cookies, chips and crackers.  Give healthy snacks instead.  You can find ideas at www.choosemyplate.gov

Breastfeeding:

  • After each time you breastfeed, wipe your baby’s gums with a clean, moist gauze pad or washcloth.
  • Once your child’s first tooth comes in, be sure to brush their teeth after each feeding.

Teething tips:

As teeth come in, babies may have sore or tender gums.  To help your baby feel better, you can:

  • gently rub your baby’s gums with clean, wet gauze, your finger, or a small, cool spoon
  • give them a clean, chilled (not frozen) teething ring – but don’t dip it in anything sweet or in other foods.
  • If your baby is still uncomfortable or cranky, talk to their dentist or pediatrician.
  • Do not use benzocaine-container over-the-counter teething products such as Anbesol, Hurricaine, Orajel, Baby Orajel, Orabase, or prescription products to soothe sore gums in young children.  These products can cause serious reactions in children.  Details can be found on the U.S. Food and Drug Administration website:  www.fda.org

Clean your child’s teeth to help prevent decay and cavities!

Brushing and flossing removes plaque, the sticky film of bacteria on your teeth.  Brush your child’s teeth for 2 minutes twice a day.  You should clean between teeth with floss or floss aid every day once the teeth begin to touch.

How to Brush Your Child’s Teeth

Brushing the teeth the right way is important.  You should brush your child’s teeth until they have the skills to do it the right way on their own.

When you teach your child how to brush the right way, it may help to stand behind them and hold the brush while they watch in the mirror.  Teach them to spit out all of the toothpaste after brushing.

Crest Oral B has a Magic Timer that helps brushing for 2 minutes with your child interactive and fun!  You can download it in the App Store on Apple and Android devices.

Here are some tips for proper brushing:

  • Place the toothbrush against the tooth where it meets the gums (also called the gum line).
  • Use a 45 degree angle to make sure you are fully reaching the gum line as well as the tooth surface.
  • Move the brush back and forth gently in short, soft circles.  Brush the outer surface of each tooth.  Use the same strokes for the inside surfaces and chewing surfaces.

How much toothpaste should my child use:

  • For children under 3 years old, use a smear or grain-of-rice sized amount of toothpaste.
  • For children 3 to 6 years old, use a pea-sized amount of toothpaste.

Clean between your child’s teeth every day

Cleaning between your child’s teeth with floss or a floss aid removes plaque where toothbrush bristles can’t reach.  Begin using floss or floss aid when your child has 2 teeth that are next to each other.  Flossing is not easy for children to do by themselves.  The ADA recommends that you floss your child’s teeth daily until they can do it alone, around ages 10 or 11.

Fluoride is nature’s cavity fighter!

Fluoride is a mineral that is found in all natural sources of water – even the ocean.  Fluoride helps protect tooth enamel from the acid attacks that cause tooth decay.  It also helps repair weakened enamel before cavities form.

Children who drink tap water that has the recommended level of fluoride are less likely to get cavities thn children who do not drink fluoridated water.

Children get added protection from fluoride by getting it from more than one source.  Other sources of fluoride include fluoride toothpastes. mouthrinses, and treatments applied at the pediatrician or dentist’s office.

What happens if my child gets a cavity?

If your child gets a cavity, your dentist may be able to fix it with several options:

  • silver diammine fluoride
  • a composite filling
  • a stainless steel crown
  • an anterior composite crown
  • a pulpotomy and stainless steel crown
  • extraction and space maintainer

Dr. Merrell offers all of these options in office.  Nitrous oxide is also offered to make your child at ease.  Occasionally, a referral may be made to a pediatric dentist or orthodontist for more specialized care.