FAQ

The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry and American Dental Association recommend your child see a pediatric dentist when the first tooth appears or no later than their first birthday.

Call Discover Smiles Pediatric Dentistry at (517) 574-4688 to schedule an appointment for your child. We’re fortunate to have two board-certified pediatric dentists in Greater Lansing, MI. What’s more, they’re both accepting new patients at this time.

Pediatric dentists are the pediatricians of dentistry. Our pediatric dentists in Okemos, MI, completed two to three years of specialty training after dental school and only treat children. At Discover Smiles Pediatric Dentistry, we care for infants and children through adolescence. We also provide special needs dentistry to those who need it.

A checkup every six months is recommended in order to prevent cavities and other dental problems. However, our pediatric dentists can tell you when and how often your child should visit based on their personal oral health.

A toothbrush will remove bacteria that can lead to decay. Any soft-bristled toothbrush with a small head, preferably one designed specifically for infants, should be used at least once a day at bedtime.

The sooner the better! Starting at birth, clean your child’s gums with a soft infant toothbrush or cloth and water. Parents should use a tiny smear of fluoride toothpaste to brush baby teeth twice daily as soon as they erupt and a soft, age-appropriate sized toothbrush.

Once children are three to six years old, then the amount should be increased to a pea-sized dollop. We also recommend that you perform or assist your child’s toothbrushing. Remember that young children do not have the ability to brush their teeth effectively. Children should spit out and not swallow excess toothpaste after brushing.

Avoid nursing children to sleep or putting anything other than water in their bedtime bottle. Also, learn the proper way to brush and floss your child’s teeth. Take your child to a pediatric dentist regularly to have their teeth and gums checked. The first dental visit should be scheduled by your child’s first birthday.

Parents should take their children to our dentists regularly, beginning with the eruption of the first tooth. Then, our dentists can recommend a specific program of brushing, flossing, and other treatments for parents to supervise and teach to their children. These home treatments, when added to regular dental visits and a balanced diet, will help give your child a lifetime of healthy habits.

While the four front teeth last until six to seven years of age, the back teeth aren’t replaced until your child reaches 10 to 13 years of age.

Baby teeth allow your child to:

• Chew properly and without pain
• Provide space for permanent teeth
• Guide permanent teeth into the correct positions
• Allow normal development of the jaw bones and muscles
• Allow normal speech development
• Maintain an attractive appearance

In general, thumbsucking and pacifier habits are only a problem if they persist for a long period of time. Most children stop these habits on their own. However, our pediatric dentists may recommend a mouth appliance if your child is still sucking their thumbs or fingers past the age of three.

This is a common occurrence and usually the result of a lower baby tooth not falling out before the permanent tooth erupts. In most cases, if your child starts wiggling the baby tooth, it will usually fall out on its own within two months. If it doesn’t, please contact our pediatric dentists so they can remove the tooth. The permanent tooth should then slide into the proper place.

First, rinse the irritated area with warm salt water and place a cold compress on the face if it is swollen. Give your child acetaminophen or ibuprofen for any pain, rather than placing aspirin on the teeth or gums. Finally, see one of our pediatric dentists as soon as possible. To prevent dental pain, take your child to our dentists every six months for dental checkups.

The most important thing to do is to remain calm and find the tooth. Hold it by the crown rather than the root and try to reinsert it in the socket. If that is not possible, put the tooth in a glass of milk and take your child and the glass immediately to our pediatric dentists.

Soft plastic mouth guards can be used to protect a child’s teeth, lips, cheeks, and gums from sports-related injuries. A custom-fitted mouth guard will protect your child from injuries to the face and even provide protection from severe injuries to the head.

Make sure your child has a balanced diet. This should include one serving each of:

• Fruits and vegetables
• Breads and cereals
• Milk and dairy products
• Meat, fish, and eggs

Limiting the servings of sugars and starches will also aid in protecting your child’s teeth from decay. You can also ask our pediatric dentists to help you select foods that protect your children’s teeth.

Have our pediatric dentists evaluate the fluoride level of your child’s primary source of drinking water. If their drinking water doesn’t contain any or enough fluoride, they may recommend a topical fluoride treatment at our office every three to six months.

There is very little risk in dental X-rays. Our pediatric dentists are especially careful to limit the amount of radiation to which children are exposed. Lead aprons are used to ensure safety and minimize the amount of radiation. Digital X-rays reduce radiation by 95% compared to film X-rays. We have digital X-rays for the safety of your child.