It is very important to get rid of dental infection from any tooth (milk or permanent) otherwise it may spread to other milk teeth and most importantly it may grow downwards and damage the permanent successor tooth in the region.

• The front teeth start falling at the age of six years.
• The grinders fall at about the age of twelve.
• Milk teeth help children speak clearly and eat naturally
• They also help in forming the correct path for permanent tooth to erupt
• If a milk tooth is extracted before the permanent one is ready to take its place then it causes problem. It leads to deficient growth of the jaws.
• Sometimes the skin and bone close over the permanent tooth and this retards its eruption.
• Milk teeth are as important as permanent teeth.

• daily cleaning of their child as soon as the first tooth erupts.
• Use a washcloth or soft bristled brush dipped in water [upto two years of age]
• After that use a pea size small amount of fluoride toothpaste on a soft brush
• do not allow your child to swallow the toothpaste.
• Children should brush at least twice a day (morning and night).
• Parents should supervise their child's brushing for best results.
• Nutrition is very important to developing teeth.
• Make sure your child has a balanced diet
• LIMIT THE FREQUENCY OF SUGAR BETWEEN MEALS AND AT NIGHT.[put rectangle around it]
• Limiting the frequency of sugars at NIGHT will help prevent tooth decay by not allowing bacteria to make acids out of it and dissolve the tooth.
• The Academy of Pediatric Dentistry recommends a preventive check-up with your specialist dentist
• every six months.

Cavities are infection of germs on the teeth. To put it in simple terms, they are holes / depressions on the teeth. Technically they are known as dental caries.

Plaque is a sticky white film that is continuously formed on a day to day basis on everybody’s teeth. It consists of food particles, bacteria etc. It is the main cause of all dental infectious diseases. If allowed to remain on teeth, it hardens to form tartar (calculus – solidified food debris) which cannot be removed by a normal toothbrush.

The sugar that we eat gets stuck on the valley like surface of teeth in the form of plaque. There it degenerates by the action of bacteria and in this process acids are released. They attack tooth enamel and dissolve it. After many such attacks the enamel completely breaks down and a small cavity is formed. This acts as a focus for food accumulation and a vicious circle is formed. Ultimately it results in a full-fledged dental decay.

Enamel is a non-living tissue(no nerve endings present). It is the hardest substance in the human body. The tissue inside the enamel is dentin which contains the nerve endings. Therefore, in the initial stages dental caries cause no pain. When the caries involves dentin there is sensitivity to hot and cold foods. As the caries proceed the sensitivity and pain increases. Finally, when the caries reaches the nerve of the tooth, there is severe long lasting pain. If the infection spreads from the tooth into the surrounding bone then there is a swelling, along with pain.

The tooth can best be filled when the cavity is not very deep. If the caries is limited to the dentin then it can be filled. In case the cavity becomes very deep. i.e. if it involves the nerve (plup) of the tooth then it cannot be filled right away. Sometime, the cavity may not be very, deep, but in case it is very broad, then too it cannot be filled. In such cases it has to be capped after a root canal treatment if required. What kind of dental fillings can be done in these cavities? Tooth coloured fillings like composites resins and fluoride releasing cements are available options for filling the cavities. They are also available in fancy colours to woo kids.

Yes. Any foodstuff which contains a large amount of sugar can cause cavities. Sweets, chocolates, candies, biscuits etc. have a lot of sugar in them. Furthermore, they are very sticky and accumulate on the tooth surfaces. They therefore cause cavities.

As pointed out earlier, if sugars repeatedly get stuck on the tooth surface it leads to cavities, sugars must not be allowed to stick on the tooth surface. Parents must not use sweets as an inducement for a child to have his dinner or do his homework or for proper behavior or to put a child to sleep. The most damage is caused by children sucking sweets during sleep.

As pointed out earlier, if sugars repeatedly get stuck on the tooth surface it leads to cavities, sugars must not be allowed to stick on the tooth surface. Parents must not use sweets as an inducement for a child to have his dinner or do his homework or for proper behavior or to put a child to sleep. The most damage is caused by children sucking sweets during sleep.

Certainly childhood would not be eaten sweets. But they must be eaten sensibly and within limits. Sweets should be eaten for fun and not given as a bribe or as a reward. A child’s toothache is no fun for the parents either. Love can conquer everything except, possibly, a toothache.

With proper care it is possible to eat sweets and free from dental proper too. After sweets are eaten, parents must see to it that children eat some raw, fibrous fruits or vegetables e.g. carrots, cucumber, apples. These clean the teeth and prevent sugars from sticking on them. Sweets must be given before meals and not be consumed between meals. It must be remembered that it is the local action of sugars that causes the problem. Sugary foodstuffs must not be allowed to stick to the tooth surfaces.

It is very important to get rid of dental infection from any tooth (milk or permanent) otherwise it may spread to other milk teeth and most importantly it may grow downwards and damage the permanent successor tooth in the region.

• The front teeth start falling at the age of six years.
• The grinders fall at about the age of twelve.
• Milk teeth help children speak clearly and eat naturally
• They also help in forming the correct path for permanent tooth to erupt
• If a milk tooth is extracted before the permanent one is ready to take its place then it causes problem. It leads to deficient growth of the jaws.
• Sometimes the skin and bone close over the permanent tooth and this retards its eruption.
• Milk teeth are as important as permanent teeth.

It is very important for a child to visit a dental office / dental clinic from the age 1. They should accompany parents who undergo dental treatments in order to get familiarized with environment in a dental clinic and get friendly with their family dentist. If not done so, when they grow up to the age of 4 or 5 years, they become highly apprehensive about the thought of seeing a dentist and the paraphernalia like injections, drills, chair light etc… We have a specialist dentist who’s area of work is just child dental treatments. So , it is now possible to carry out necessary treatments in complex behavioral patients.

In extreme behavioral problem patients, the specialist dentists may suggest carrying out the entire treatment of all the involved teeth under general anaesthesia with the supportive system and team work with an Anaesthetist and a physician in a special hospital.

Baby bottle tooth decay (nursing bottle caries) is caused by prolonged contact with almost any liquid other than water. Putting your child in bed with a bottle of nutritional supplement formula, milk, juice, or any sweetened drinks will cause this condition. When liquid from a baby bottle builds up in the mouth, the sugars in the liquid mix with bacteria that produce acid that attack tooth enamel. If you must give your child a bottle in bed it should contain only water.

Sealants are clear protective plastic coatings(thin fillings) applied to the chewing surface (pits and fissures) of the back teeth to help keep them cavity-free. The procedure is painless and can be completed in one visit. Sealants should be applied to permanent molars as they erupt to prevent decay. Sealants that are properly applied and maintained help protect the chewing surfaces of your child's teeth. The Indian Dental Association recognizes that sealants play an important role in the prevention of tooth decay.

Baby bottle tooth decay (nursing bottle caries) is caused by prolonged contact with almost any liquid other than water. Putting your child in bed with a bottle of nutritional supplement formula, milk, juice, or any sweetened drinks will cause this condition. When liquid from a baby bottle builds up in the mouth, the sugars in the liquid mix with bacteria that produce acid that attack tooth enamel. If you must give your child a bottle in bed it should contain only water.

Parents are usually very concerned when their children grind their teeth in their sleep (bruxism). Most cases of pediatric bruxism do not require dental intervention. The habit shall fade away in the due course of time.

The most important thing is to remain calm and find the tooth. Hold it by the crown rather than the root. Put the tooth in a GLASS OF MILK if available; otherwise keep the tooth moist in water. Immediately take your child and the tooth to the dentist. Time is critical in saving the tooth. Earlier the better. By means of RE-IMPLANTATION, the same tooth may be possible to be stabilized in the mouth by splinting.

You must brush your teeth after every meal ideally. Brushing at night is more important than in the morning. When we have food in late evening and we don’t brush before going to sleep then the bacteria have a full 8-10 hours to attack the enamel and cause cavities. Brushing before going to bed is a must.

The brush must be changed as soon as its bristles become distorted in shape. Usually it WORKS FOR 3-4 MONTHS. A toothbrush with frayed bristles has reduced cleaning efficiency and it also acts as a source of germs. Some brushes come with a colour indicator too for the same purpose.

Brushing has to be supplemented with dental flossing. With a wax thread like floss the inter-teeth area is cleaned very well. Fluoride mouthwashes are available. The child must rinse his mouth with such a mouthwash before retiring (after the age 7).

Brushing has to be supplemented with dental flossing. With a wax thread like floss the inter-teeth area is cleaned very well. Fluoride mouthwashes are available. The child must rinse his mouth with such a mouthwash before retiring (after the age 7).

Nowadays, topical fluoride applications are done. A fluoride solution is applied on the child’s teeth. This strengthens the enamel. It has to be done by a professional - dental surgeon only. It is done every six months till the age of 12 and is very helpful in reducing cavities.

Pit and fissure sealants are available. These seal small irregularities on the biting surface of the teeth, where most of the cavities begin. It prevents food and plaque accumulation and hence cavities. This can be done only by a dental surgeon.

Brushing has to be supplemented with dental flossing. With a wax thread like floss the inter-teeth area is cleaned very well. Fluoride mouthwashes are available. The child must rinse his mouth with such a mouthwash before retiring (after the age 7).

Nowadays, topical fluoride applications are done. A fluoride solution is applied on the child’s teeth. This strengthens the enamel. It has to be done by a professional - dental surgeon only. It is done every six months till the age of 12 and is very helpful in reducing cavities.

Pit and fissure sealants are available. These seal small irregularities on the biting surface of the teeth, where most of the cavities begin. It prevents food and plaque accumulation and hence cavities. This can be done only by a dental surgeon.

The initial routine check up should begin when the first tooth erupts or no longer than the first birthday of the child.

Visit your dentist as for a detailed evaluation and xray examination . the milk tooth may be overretained and may have to removed for allowing the permanent one to erupt smoothly