Few things are as contagious as a child’s smile, but it’s easy to forget how much work it takes to maintain it. In fact, caring for a child’s dental hygiene is something that starts in infancy, when parents are advised to clean their child’s mouth with cotton gauze mouth wipes to remove plaque and residue.
At one year old, a child is ready for their first visit to the dentist. “The most important appointment in a child’s life is the one-year appointment,” says Dr. Mario Vilardi, a periodontist and publisher of “Dear Doctor: Dentistry and Oral Health” magazine.
But it’s a visit many parents overlook. “A lot of times, unfortunately, parents don’t bring their child in until around 3 years of age,” says Mark Hochberg, a pediatric dentist on the Upper East Side. “But the first visit is so important because the child gets a full examination and we counsel parents on important steps about bottle feeding, diet, and home care instruction.”
Starting when the first tooth erupts, children should use a child size toothbrush and non-fluoridated toothpaste. Once they can spit it out, which usually happens between 2 and 3 years of age, they can use fluoridated toothpaste. “Flouridated toothpaste is the best defense against cavities,” Hochberg says.
Until a child is 6 or 7, parents should help them brush, as it’s unlikely a child can do so correctly unsupervised. At age 7, a child is often ready to start flossing on their own (before which parents can help them, starting when their first molars appear). This is also a good time to introduce fluoride-based rinses like ACT.
But perhaps the most important step to take in maintaining your child’s healthy smile is finding a pediatric dentist you love. When you’re looking for a dentist, look for features that indicate their office is kid-friendly. Toys, games, and videos can be helpful in easing children’s fears about visiting the dentist. Finding a dentist who explains what is happening in terms a child can understand is also key.
Braces 411
The who, what,
when, where, and how of orthodontic treatment can be a daunting pile of
questions regardless of whether your first or your seventh child is due
for some wires. And while it may seem early,
the American Association of Orthodontics actually recommends that
children have an orthodontic evaluation by the age of 7.
“Early
intervention is great prevention,” explains orthodontist and Invisalign
specialist Dr. Jacqueline Fulop-Goodling. Though a child is hardly an
adult at age 12, their mouth is actually full-grown around that age. By
evaluating a child’s mouth by around age 7, dentists can use the
malleability of a growing mouth to correct jaw discrepancies and
crowding issues with growth modification appliances like an arch or
palate expander even before starting a treatment with braces.
There
are many options in the field today, from wire braces that allow for
less frequent and less painful visits, to clear braces that remain a
popular cosmetic choice, and from bonded retainers that fit on the
backside of the front teeth to the clear Invisalign trays. But it is
important for treatment options to be individualized to your child’s
needs as diagnosed by your child’s orthodontist.
Orthodontist
Dr. Mark Bronsky, who has a practice on the Upper East Side, says that
while many people consider orthodontic work to be a mainly cosmetic
issue, “the goal is for long-term health. If the teeth fit together in a
way that is close to the way they should, they tend to be more stable
and healthy in the long term.” And with the right treatment, Dr. Bronsky
adds, “kids gain some serious self-esteem benefits” in the process.
—K.W.
Tooth Fairies
A
list of recommended local dentists and orthodontists. For a full list
of board-certified dentists and orthodontists, visit aapd.org and
braces.org.
Dr. Mark J. Bronsky, Orthodontist 530 Park Avenue; 212-758-0040 bronskyorthodontics.com
Dr. Jacqueline Fulop-Goodling, Orthodontist and Invisalign Specialist 30 East 40th Street; 212-972-3522 drjackiesmiles.com
Dr. Mark S. Hochberg, Pediatric Dentist Manhattan Pediatric Dental Group 192 East 75th Street; 212-570-2221 smiles4kids.com
Dr. Joseph T. Hung, RockCenter Orthodontics 630 Fifth Avenue, Suite 1812 212-265-3577, manhattanortho.com
Dr. Jack L. Mitchell, Orthodontist Pediatric Dentistry 305 East 55th Street; 212-755-3355, pediatricdentistNYC.com
Dr. Rita V. Taliwall, Orthodontist Pediatric Dentistry 305 East 55th Street; 212-755-3355, pediatricdentistNYC.com
Tribeca Smiles, Family and Esthetic Dentistry 44 Lispenard Street; 212-473-4444, tribecasmiles.com
