• Keep their mouth as clean as possible during and following pregnancy and have cavities treated. This will reduce the number of bad bacteria in the mouth.
  
• Optimize fluoride intake. Rinse with fluoride rinses as recommended by your dentist.
  
• Chew xylitol based sugarless chewing gum (like Orbit or Koolerz), this can reduce the effects of the acids on the teeth.
  
• Do not share eating utensils or toothbrushes with your child, this will transmit bacteria.
  
• Do not place your child's pacifier in your mouth prior to placing in their mouth.

Studies show that if your child is not exposed to these acid producing bacteria until their 2nd birthday, the good bacteria will already have their "homes" set up and won't allow the bad bugs to establish themselves. With a little knowledge and a lot of effort, your child can grow up to be cavity free for a lifetime.

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First visit - how old and what to expect

Ideally, it is best to take your child to the dentist before their first birthday. The earlier you begin, the better chance we have to prevent problems before they occur.

Our goals for the first visit are to:

• Perform an oral health risk assessment to determine how likely your child is to develop cavities. That way, we can custom tailor a prevention program for your child.
  
• Discuss feeding and dietary habits as they relate to oral health and overall health. We will also discuss the frequency of snacking, which can have an enormous effect on the decay rate. (Yes, juice is considered a snack.)
  
• Clean your child's teeth in a non-threatening manner (either on your lap or in the dental chair, depending upon your child.)
  
• Teach you proper oral hygiene techniques so you can keep your child's teeth clean at home.
  
• Evaluate your child's fluoride needs to determine if supplementation is necessary. (May be done in consultation with their physician.)
  
• Build your child's trust in the dentist and the office staff by letting him know that visits can be fun and we are his friend.
  

• Play "dentist" with your child at home. First, pretend that you're counting your child's teeth, then switch roles and let your child play "dentist."
  
• Set a good example by brushing and flossing your own teeth daily.
  
• Read your child a story about going to the dentist.
  
• Talk about the visit in a positive, relaxed matter of fact way.
  
• Make the dental appointment for a time when your child is well-rested. Mornings are usually best.
  
• Let your child know that you visit the dentist regularly too.
  
• Talk about the visit afterwards and remind them how much fun it was.

• Don't convey anxiety about the dental visit to your child. Anxiety on your part will be sensed by your child. They are very perceptive.
  
• Don't worry if your child cries a little during the visit, since this is perfectly normal behavior for infants and young children in new situations.
  
• Don't use negative words like: hurt, shot, needle, or drill around your child.
  
• Avoid reassuring comments like "don't worry, the doctor won't hurt you." Comments like these tend to raise the child's anxiety level.
  
• Don't use a visit to the dentist as punishment.
  
• Don't allow scary stories to be told to your child about the dentist.
  
• Be careful not to over do it. If you make too big of a deal about it, it will become a "big deal."

• They permit your child to chew food easily and comfortably.
  
• They allow your child to speak well as teeth are needed for proper pronunciation of many sounds.
  
• They hold space for the permanent teeth that will take their place (if they are lost early, space maintainers are necessary.)
  
• They help to guide the eruption of the permanent teeth.
  
• They are important for esthetics and keep you child's smile looking bright so your child can feel good about the way they look.