Pediatric Dentistry

Springfield, Holyoke, Longmeadow, and Wilbraham, MA Pediatric Dentist

At Baystate Dental, we are happy to have trained and experienced dentists who provide outstanding pediatric dentistry for your child. We also help expectant mothers make smart choices with their own dental health, as well as their diet, so their unborn children are well cared for. We provide pediatric dentistry care for children of all ages, and we encourage you to start your child on the road to good oral hygiene habits as early as possible.

Pregnancy and Your Baby’s Oral Health

Good dental care for your baby begins before he or she is born. In fact, teeth begin to form between the third and sixth month of pregnancy. Expectant mothers should pay extra attention to their oral hygiene and diet during pregnancy:

• Red and tender gums that bleed easily may be caused by increased hormone levels. Come for a check-up to make sure they are not caused by gum disease.
• Frequent snacking on sugary foods will lead to increased tooth decay
• Eating a diet that lacks the proper nutrients can negatively affect the development of your baby's teeth
• Pregnant women who have severe periodontal disease, bone loss or pyorrhea in their mouth tend to more often have low birth weight babies
• Bacteria in the mouth can travel through the mother's system and have an adverse effect on your baby’s development

Dental Care for Infants

All 20 of your baby's primary teeth (baby teeth) are present in the jawbone at birth, even though they are not visible. That is why oral hygiene is important for infants. We recommend the use of a damp gauze pad or face cloth to wipe the gums after the baby is fed from a bottle or by nursing.

If you are bottle feeding your baby, make sure his or her tongue, lip and cheek positions are in correct so the upper and lower jaw are prepared for the first teeth. Our pediatric dentists usually recommend NUK brand of nipples and pacifiers which seem to stimulate natural swallowing and tongue habits in your newborn.

The lower two front teeth are typically the first to break through the gums, sometimes as early as six months after birth. All of your child's primary teeth (10 upper and 10 lower) are usually apparent by age three.

How Diet and Habits Affects Dental Health in Children

Tooth decay can happen as soon as teeth appear. One type of serious tooth decay among young children and infants is called nursing bottle syndrome. This can occur when an infant is allowed to drink from a bottle during naps or at night. If milk, formula, sugar water or fruit juices pool around the child’s teeth for long periods, the teeth will be bathed in acid. It will burn holes in the baby’s tooth enamel. If you must use a bottle to put your child to bed, plain water is recommended. We also recommend that the bottle be removed as soon as the child falls asleep.

Certain behaviors, such as thumb sucking, can cause serious dental problems if not controlled. If you are having problems getting your child to stop this behavior, we can provide you with literature, such as the book entitled "David Decides," for help during this difficult time.

Constant earaches and sore throats can cause improper breathing and can also affect the growth and development of the tongue. Children who have allergies to foods or medications or who are mouth breathers are more likely to have orthodontic problems. Removal of enlarged tonsils and adenoids could also be beneficial in the long term for growth and development.

How to Make Dental Visits Enjoyable for Children

We recommend that your child be introduced to a dentistry office as soon as possible, usually between the ages of one and three. By putting your child in the proper frame of mind we can make that first dental visit fun and positive. Here are some tips to deal with taking children to the dentist:

• Teach your child how the dentist helps keep teeth healthy
• Make appointments early in the morning when the child is less apt to be tired
• Have the child eat a normal breakfast and take any required medications before the visit
• Make an effort to keep the appointment, even if the child protests
• Avoid bribing the child to go to the dentist
• Do not make a big deal out of the visit
• Never use the visit to the dentist as a threat or punishment
• Do not transmit any of your own dental anxiety to your child

If you live in Massachusetts and are searching for a pediatric dentist, please contact us at Baystate Dental today. You can schedule a visit at any of our convenient locations in Springfield, Longmeadow or Wilbraham.