Wylie Children's Dentistry Blog

At about 3 years of age, your child should have all of his or her baby teeth in place. Since statistics show that close to 50% of kids have their first cavity before their first day of school, preventive measures should be taken.

We realize every child is different, but try to make sure that bottles and sippy cups are a thing of the past beyond one year of age. Fluoride toothpaste should be used (pea-size for a 2 year old, slightly bigger for ages 3-5), and sugary snacks between meals should be given sparingly.

The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry (AAPD) says that no more than 6 ounces of juice should be given in a day. Those sucking habits like use of a soother or thumb-sucking should be stopped before age to prevent facial development issues and bite problems (buck teeth for example).

Kids this age are likely trying to be independent, wanting to brush their own teeth and all, so let them do it but keep close supervision to ensure they do it right and stay with it.

Generally around this time in your child’s life, all the baby teeth are gone and all the permanent ones have risen up to replace them.

While it is a sign of growing up and could be a good thing that they are taking more strides toward independence, this could spell trouble for dental habits since teenagers are more likely to drink sodas and eat unhealthy snacks.

Teens are also more self-aware or self-conscious about their appearance, so bring your teen in and talk with us if he or she has teeth that are discolored or crooked. Discussions about whitenings and braces can occur.

We will also take X-rays of the jaws to do early detection of wisdom teeth (third molars) and let you know approximately when you should take your child in to have them removed by an oral surgeon.

While this is a disturbing thought, the fact is that substance use and/or abuse mostly occurs in the teen years such as smoking cigarettes and drinking. This is unhealthy for your child in any sense, but there are specific dental problems that could develop. This is also the most likely time for eating disorders, which can lead to dental problems in addition to others. Although we are a dental office, don’t hesitate to talk to us if you are seeking help with these teen issues. We can help, and we would be honored to do so.