A new infant born in the family and suddenly everybody is excited about health issues. One area is always your child teeth. San Diego Pedodontists answered a few questions like when should infant or a toddler be brushing his milk teeth? Does it What kind of toothpaste should I use for my child teeth? Knowing answers to these questions are important in helping you in keeping your child's teeth healthy and possibly cavity free.
When does child have the first teethAn infant would generally have their first milk tooth between 4 to 7 months. During his first teeth arival its not necessary to brush his his teeth although San Diego pedodontists feel its fairly important to clean his teeth. During the normal growth from infant to toddlers there its important to make brushing a fun and a routine activity as a part of life. Its a very important part of your teaching to the child to make sure their teeth are healthy and clean.
How to choose a tooth pasteOnce your kid starts brushing its important to know if your child is being exposed to excessive fluoride. This would a lot depend on your toothpaste. One should keep in mind that most kids' toothpastes are fluoridated. Although many of these have children cartoons on them, it does not mean that it is safe for children to swallow too much of these toothpastes. Using a small pea-size amount of fluoridated toothpaste is recommended, so that there is little danger of your child getting too much fluoride in case he or she swallows it. It is alway helpful to encourage your child when they brush their teeth and spit the toothpaste out at a young age. For younger children it is recommended to use non-fluoridated toothpastes. Examples of such toothpastes are: Baby Orajel Tooth and Gum Cleanser, until they are spitting the toothpaste out.
Amount of tooth paste which should be usedHaving said above things San Diego pedodontists feel figuring out if your child is getting adequate amount of fluoride is important. By six months of age, children need fluoride supplements. If he is drinking tap water (either alone, or mixed with formula or 100% fruit juice), and you live in an area with the water is fluoridated, then he should be getting an adequate amount of fluoride. If he doesn't drink water, or is drinking well water, unfluoridated bottled water (most brands of bottled water don't have fluoride in them unless the label specifically states that they do), or filtered water, then he may not be getting enough fluoride to keep his teeth healthy. Consulting your Pediatrician or dentist about fluoride supplements is highly recommended.
Many of the water filters, filter out the fluoride, which could be a cause for concern. Counter top filters and the pitcher type filters usually don't remove fluoride, but more sophisticated, point of use filters can. If in doubt, check with the manufacturer to see if the filter removes fluoride.
Placement of sealants should be discussed with your pedodontist, or pediatric dentist should be discussed. Dental sealant is a plastic material and is placed over the grooves of the teeth to protect teeth from plaque and other harmful substances.
Views from American Academy of Pediatric DentistThe American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry states that children should see a dentist when they get their first tooth and no later than 1 year of age. In contrast, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics, unless your child has risk factors for having problems with his teeth, such as sleeping with a cup or bottle, teeth staining, thumb sucking, etc., the first visit to the dentist should be by around the third birthday.
Finding the right Pediatric dentists in your areaAn early visit to the pedodontists is a good way to learn proper oral hygiene at an early age however. Avoiding nighttime bottles or cups of formula or juice, proper toothbrushing, and a diet that promotes good dental health should be a part of the first visit talks with your Pedodontist. Visiting a Pediatric dentist early if a child has other medical conditions that may put him or her at risk of having dental problems, such as Down Syndrome In case you see these issues its highly recommended to find a pediatric dentists in your area.

