Is thumb/ finger sucking or pacifiers bad for your child’s teeth? It is not uncommon for young children to suck their fingers or on pacifiers, however, as children get older, it may affect his teeth. The longer a child sucks on his finger or pacifier, the more likely it is that his front teeth will be misaligned. Common issues are an opened anterior bite (when biting, the top and bottom front teeth do not touch each other – usually the space is the size of the child’s thumb) or buck teeth. These are usually self-correcting if the child stops the bad habit by the age of four. According to the ADA (American Dental Association), parents and healthcare professionals should start to encourage children to stop these bad oral habits at the age of four years old. Most children will stop this habit on their own or with minimal guidance from their parents. If needed, a dental professional should be able to help guide parents and kids on stopping these bad habits. In cases that behavior modification and a reward system is not enough, a dental appliance can be fabricated to help prevent finger sucking and pacifier use. Sometimes, braces are needed to help correct the misaligned teeth. Until six months, hands tend to be kept close to the face. Therefore, most babies that suck fingers start before they are 6 months old. In my opinion, it is best to keep removing fingers from the mouth from birth and to encourage pacifiers. Sometimes placing socks over baby’s hands will help prevent finger sucking. Pacifiers are better than fingers because you can take away the pacifier but you cannot take away a child’s fingers. Pacifiers can be hard to take away from toddlers, so I would recommend to start weaning at one year old.
Are bottles during the night bad for my child’s teeth? It is normal to feed newborn babies during the night. Once a baby’s teeth start to erupt, it is time to start weaning them off of night feedings. If weaning is not an option, then make sure to feed them some water after night feedings or wipe
their teeth after each feeding. Baby bottle tooth decay occurs when sugars – especially natural sugars (ex: milk, formula, fruit-juices, etc.) cling to teeth for a prolonged amount of time; causing severe acid erosion of the teeth. Tooth decay can occur in nursing babies too, as the milk contains a high percentage of lactose sugar. Never allow bottles that are filled with anything besides water in the crib.
Is a sippy cup better than a bottle? The problem is frequency. The more frequently someone eats/ drinks and sucks on a bottle/ sippy cup, the more likely they are to develop decay and misaligned teeth. Unfortunately, many parents will allow their child to have the sippy cup throughout the entire day. This is not recommended whether filled with juice (will increase chance of decay) or water (may cause misaligned teeth). Sippy cups/bottles should be limited to meals and snacks. There are spoutless sippy cups that may be used throughout the day if filled with plain water.
Is there anything a dentist can do to help remove these bad habits? Dentists can help guide and educate parents and kids on eliminating bad oral habits. Dentists can help with positive corrective feedback and by fabricating a dental appliance. Two common dental appliances are the Hay Rake and the Palatal Crib. These appliances can cost approximately $500. A cheaper option that does not require a dentist and costs approximately $80 is the Tguard (tguard.com). This clear device is placed over the child’s finger and prevents a suction from forming. The device is locked in place with a bracelet and cannot be removed without cutting the bracelet. The device does not prevent regular daily activities. It is recommended to use the device for 30 days.
When is the right time for my child to have their first dental visit? The ADA recommends within 6 months after eruption of their first tooth or at 1 year old, whichever is first.
SHALOM MINTZ DDS MS PC Rockland Periodontics and Implants, 873 Route 45 suite 201 (Corner Route 45 and New Hempstead Road), New City NY 10956, 845.259.2500, Practice Limited to Periodontics and Implantology, Diplomate, American Board of Periodontology, LANAP/ Lasers Certified Periodontist (www.LANAP.com), Pinhole Gingival Grafting Certified (www.pinholesurgicaltechnique.com)
106 / THE MONSEY VIEW / February 22, 2017 www.themonseyview.com / 845.600.8484