Dental squadron urges early care for baby teeth Published Feb. 1, 2012 By Capt. (Dr.) Jessical Milburn 81st Dental Squadron KEESLER AIR FORCE BASE, Miss. -- It is important to establish what the dental community calls a "dental home." When children start practicing good oral hygiene habits at an early age, they will need less expensive dental care and can prevent avoidable emergency situations in the future. A "dental home" starts with routine, comprehensive and family-centered care by a licensed dentist. Because the child's physical home serves as an extension of the "dental home," this process can actually begin with increasing a parent's dental knowledge. A child's first dental appointment should be scheduled with the appearance of their first tooth (usually around 6 months) and no later than 1 year old. At this time, a pediatric or general dentist will help the parent establish and maintain a "dental home." They will discuss the child's dental treatment needs and risk factors for cavities. Parents can ask any questions they may have regarding nutrition and oral hygiene. During infancy, a softbristled tooth brush or wet washcloth may be used to clean an infant's teeth. As children develop the ability to spit (around age 3), they may start using fluoridated toothpastes in a pea-sized amount. Typically, children 8 years old and younger should be supervised when they brush their own teeth. A common but avoidable mistake is giving an infant or child a bottle containing something other than water right before bedtime. It is not advisable to put a child to sleep with a bottle filled with juice, soda or milk as this can lead to "baby bottle tooth decay." As the child nurses through the night with these drinks, teeth are constantly coated with sugar, leading to an acidic environment which can lead to painful cavities. If infection develops, it can cause further pain, affect the adult teeth and even become life-threatening. Baby teeth serve a number of functions and are critical to the overall growth process. They're far too important to be looked at as something that will just fall out. In fact, in some cases, adult teeth don't replace the baby teeth, and these baby teeth may remain in a person's mouth throughout their life. Proper oral hygiene begins at home before the first dental visit even occurs. With increased dental knowledge, help with hygiene and access to care, parents can help their children have a more healthy future and beautiful smile.