REVISE D
Be Prepared
Knowing how to handle a
dental emergency can mean
the difference between saving
and losing your child's tooth.
Here are some tips to help you
cope quickly and calmly with
a dental emergency.
Handling Your Child's
Dental Emergency
Parents
Dr. Jordan Johnson
Family Dentistry
Specializing in Pediatric Dentistry
211 E. Chicago Ave.
Suite 500
Chicago IL 60611
(312) 440-2500
Fax (312) 440-2935
www.jordanjohnsondentistry.com
DAB016
© 2011 American Dental Association. All rights reserved.
To reorder, call 1-800-947-4746 or visit www.adacatalog.org
The ADA logo is a registered trademark of the American Dental Association.
Used with permission.
REVISE D
REVISE D REVISE D
BEST SE LLE R BEST SE LLE R
REVISE D
REVISE D
4-8 PANEL PERSONALIZED BROCHURES
New online proofs now available at adacatalog.org
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REVISE D
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There's nothing as beautiful as a
child's smile. With good oral care
at home and regular dental visits,
children can reach adulthood
without suffering from tooth decay
and other oral health problems.
Keep That Smile Clean
• Brushing teeth twice a day and flossing
once a day are important to keep teeth
and gums healthy.
• Choose a child-sized toothbrush with
soft bristles. Replace it every three months
or sooner if the bristles are frayed. Worn
toothbrushes won't clean teeth properly.
• For children under three years old, use
no more than a smear or grain-of-rice-
sized amount of fluoride toothpaste.
Be sure you are in charge of the toothpaste
and the child knows it is not food.
• For children three to six years old, use
no more than a pea-sized amount of
fluoride toothpaste.
• Tell your child to spit out the toothpaste
and not swallow it.
• Supervise children while they brush their
teeth. If they can't tie their shoes, they
shouldn't brush their teeth alone.
As children grow up and become more skillful,
they'll be able to brush their own teeth. But
they may require daily reminders!
For children under three
years old
For children three to six
years old
Floss Every Day
Flossing is important to remove plaque from
between teeth where a toothbrush can't reach.
Starting when your child has teeth that touch,
floss the teeth until your child is old enough to
do so himself. Then show your child how to use
floss or another between-the-teeth cleaner.
Your child's dentist or hygienist can teach
proper brushing and flossing.
Fluoride, Nature's Cavity Fighter
Fluoride helps make teeth stronger and protects
them from decay. It is a mineral that occurs
naturally in all water sources.
Children who drink tap water that has the
recommended levels of fluoride are less likely
to get cavities than children who do not drink
fluoridated water. Fluoride is also found in
anti-cavity toothpastes, mouthrinses and
treatments applied in the dental office.
Talk to the dentist about your child's fluoride
needs. Be sure to tell your child's dentist if you
use bottled water or a water treatment system
at home. If you live in an area where the tap
water does not contain the recommended
levels of fluoride, your dentist or physician
may prescribe fluoride supplements for your
child. In areas that have the right
amounts of fluoride in the tap
water, children should not take
fluoride supplements.
LOOK FOR DENTAL PRODUCTS
THAT DISPLAY THE ADA SEAL
OF ACCEPTANCE
TALK
TO YOUR
DENTIST
Diet and Your Child's Teeth
Plaque (sounds like PLAK) is a sticky film of bacteria
that forms on teeth. When plaque is not removed
from teeth every day, it builds up. Plaque bacteria
use sugar to make acid that attacks enamel, the
hard surface of the tooth. The acid can attack tooth
enamel for up to 20 minutes after sugary foods
and drinks are consumed. These drinks include
juices, sodas and sports and energy drinks.
Repeated acid attacks can cause tooth decay,
which must be treated by a dentist.
Frequent snacks and sips of sugary drinks between
meals expose teeth to repeated acid attacks. For
good dental and overall health, be sure your child
eats a healthy diet. If your child needs a between-
meal snack, choose healthy foods. To help prevent
tooth decay, save sweets for mealtime.
For ideas about healthy foods and drinks to give
your child, see www.choosemyplate.gov.
Help patients understand
treatment options with personalized
ADA brochures.
W166
To order additional copies,
call 800.947.4746
or visit adacatalog.org
©2014 American Dental Association
All rights reserved.
Prepared in cooperation with the American Academy
of Pediatric Dentistry, www.aapd.org
· Brush your teeth twice a day with
a fluoride toothpaste.
· Clean between your teeth once a day.
· Eat a healthy diet and limit snacks.
· Visit your dentist regularly.
ADA Healthy Smile Tips
For more information
about taking care of
your mouth and teeth,
visit MouthHealthy.org,
the ADA's website just for patients.
Tooth Decay
in Baby Teeth
Baby Teeth Can Get Cavities!
PARENTS
What causes tooth decay?
Bacteria in the mouth change the sugar in foods
and drinks into acid that attacks the teeth. Each
time you eat or drink, that acid can attack the
teeth for 20 minutes or longer. Over time tooth
decay can develop and a cavity can form.
How does tooth decay affect
baby teeth?
Tooth decay in the primary (baby) teeth of young
children is also called early childhood caries.
Caries is another word for a cavity. It happens when
the child's teeth come into contact with sugary
foods and drinks often and for long periods of time.
These drinks include fruit juices, soda and other
drinks with sugar.
Parents are often surprised to learn that tooth
decay can begin as soon as a baby's teeth come in,
usually by age six months. Decay in baby teeth can
cause pain, and the infection can spread. If decay
is not treated, it can destroy the baby teeth.
Tooth decay can also have an effect on a child's
general health. If a child has tooth pain, she may
have trouble eating. The child may not get enough
vitamins and minerals to grow up healthy.
DECAY IN BABY TEETH
Healthy baby teeth
Moderate to severe decay Moderate to severe decay Severe decay
Why are baby teeth important?
Baby teeth hold space in the jaw for the adult
teeth. If a baby tooth is lost too early, the teeth
beside it may drift into the empty space. When it's
time for the adult teeth to come in, there may not
be enough room for them. This may cause adult
teeth to be crowded and crooked. Crooked teeth
may be hard to keep clean.
If a child's baby teeth are healthy, it is more
likely his adult teeth will be healthy too.
Children who have decay in their baby teeth are
more likely to have decay in their adult teeth.
Decayed and crooked teeth also can affect
your child's self-esteem. Tooth decay is not
only unhealthy, it also looks bad. If your child
has tooth decay he may feel bad about his smile.
On the other hand, a nice-looking smile can give
your child confidence at school.
If a baby tooth is lost too early, the
teeth beside it may drift into the
empty space.
ADULT TOOTH
Did you know...
...that tooth decay is the
most common long-term childhood disease?
Children of any age can get tooth decay, even
babies and toddlers. And tooth decay is five
times more common than asthma. The good
news is that tooth decay can be prevented!
How else can I protect teeth
from decay?
Sealants protect only the chewing surfaces of
teeth. Good care of the teeth at home along
with regular exams and cleanings at the dentist's
office are important. These good habits stop
decay from forming in between the teeth —
spots that sealants cannot cover.
To prevent cavities, follow the Healthy Smile
Tips on the back cover of this brochure. Look for
oral care products that display the ADA Seal of
Acceptance. This tells you that the product meets
ADA standards for safety and effectiveness.
Who should get sealants?
Sealants are most often placed in children and
teenagers, since tooth decay can start soon
after teeth come in. But adults can sometimes
benefit from sealants too, because you never
outgrow the risk for developing cavities.
A sealant can be placed on a tooth that does
not have a cavity in its pits and grooves. If a
tooth is stained or has mild decay, your dentist
may suggest you get a sealant, or another option
may be necessary. If a tooth has more advanced
decay, it will need a filling.
Prevention is always better than treatment.
Sealants are very useful in preventing tooth
decay on the back teeth and can save patients
money over time. Your dentist can make sealants
part of your plan for a healthy mouth.
How are sealants applied?
Sealants are easy to apply. It takes only a few
minutes to seal each tooth. First, the tooth is
cleaned and the chewing surfaces are prepared
to help the sealant stick to the tooth. Then the
sealant is painted onto the chewing surface where
it bonds to the tooth and hardens. A special light
may be used to help the sealant harden. Sealants
are generally clear or white and cannot be seen
when you smile or talk.
How long do sealants last?
Sealants usually last several years before they
need to be replaced. Over time, sealants can
become loose or worn. Then they may not protect
the teeth as well. Chewing on ice or hard foods
can also break down sealants.
During regular dental visits, your
dentist will check your sealants
and reapply them if needed.
LOOK FOR DENTAL PRODUCTS
THAT DISPLAY THE ADA SEAL
OF ACCEPTANCE
Dental Sealants
Our teeth are covered with a sticky
film of bacteria, called plaque (sounds
like PLAK). When we eat or drink
anything that contains sugar — such
as cookies, candy, soda, juice, or
sports drinks — bacteria turn the
sugar into acids that can attack tooth
enamel. Over time, these attacks
may cause tooth decay, or cavities.
The good news is that there is a way
to protect teeth and prevent decay:
dental sealants.
Tooth surface before a
sealant is applied
DENTAL SEALANT
Tooth surface protected
by a sealant
SEE YOUR
DENTIST
REGULARLY
W291
To order additional copies,
call 800.947.4746
or visit adacatalog.org
©2014 American Dental Association
All rights reserved.
· Brush your teeth twice a day with
a fluoride toothpaste.
· Clean between your teeth once a day.
· Eat a healthy diet and limit snacks.
· Visit your dentist regularly.
ADA Healthy Smile Tips
For more information
about taking care of
your mouth and teeth,
visit MouthHealthy.org,
the ADA's website just for patients.
Dental Sealants
Protecting Teeth,
Preventing Decay
PARENTS
Why are sealants needed?
Tooth decay often begins on the chewing
surfaces of the back teeth. These surfaces
have pits and grooves that trap plaque,
bacteria, and bits of food. The pits and
grooves are hard to keep clean, because
toothbrush bristles cannot reach into them.
That is how decay starts in the pits and
grooves and cavities form. To keep decay
from starting here, the dentist may
recommend dental sealants.
How do sealants work?
A dental sealant is a plastic material (resin)
applied to the chewing surfaces of the back
teeth. The sealant material flows into the
pits and grooves in the teeth. The sealant
acts as a barrier, protecting enamel by
sealing out plaque, bacteria, and food.
Sealant photos courtesy of Dr. Adam A. Francois
Even a toothbrush bristle is too big
to reach inside a groove in the tooth
(magnified).
Tooth
groove
Toothbrush
bristle
51 O R D E R O N L I N E : A D A C ATA L O G . O R G
