Dr. Crockett recommends that children see the dentist between 12-18 months. At this early age, a well check visit would be set to check the eruption of teeth, growth and development of bones and soft tissue, go over diet, nutrition, and early home care, and to catch any possible early decay. If you have any concerns about your child teeth, regardless of their age, a visit to the pediatric dentist is warranted.

Teeth begin to form in a baby’s mouth even before birth. All 20 primary teeth, or baby teeth, are present in the jawbones when your child is born. The lower two front teeth are the first to erupt, and this usually happens around six months of age. A parent should not be concerned if their child is a little delayed; there is a definite time variance on eruption. By age three, however, all primary teeth should be present. Permanent tooth eruption usually begins around age six and will follow the same pattern as the primary teeth, starting with the lower front teeth. Permanent eruption ends with the eruption of the third molars usually between 17-21 years of age.

Toddler tooth paste does not have any fluoride in it. Children’s toothpaste does contain fluoride. Make sure to read the label. It is recommended that a child use toddler toothpaste until they can spit all of the toothpaste out, usually around the age of three and a half. If there is any question that your child is swallowing any toothpaste, keep them on toddler toothpaste.

Decay in infants and toddlers is called baby bottle tooth decay. This is caused by nursing, bottles, and sippy cups at nap and bed time. It can destroy the teeth and most often occurs in the upper front teeth but other teeth may also be affected. Decay occurs when sweetened liquids are given and are left clinging to an infant's teeth for long periods. Many sweet liquids cause problems, including milk, including breast milk, formula and fruit juice. Bacteria in the mouth use these sugars as food. They then produce acids that attack the teeth. Each time your child drinks these liquids, acids attack for 20 minutes or longer. After many attacks, the teeth can decay. It's not just what you put in your child's bottle that causes decay but how often and for how long a time. Giving your child a bottle of sweetened liquid many times a day isn't a good idea. Allowing your child to fall asleep with a bottle during naps or at night can also harm the child's teeth.

Primary teeth “hold” space in the jaws for the permanent teeth. Sometimes a primary tooth is lost before the permanent tooth beneath is ready to erupt. If primary teeth are lost too early, teeth nearby can tip or move into the vacant space. When the permanent teeth are ready to erupt, there may not be enough room for them.

As soon as you notice that teeth are touching you should start flossing. Decay–causing bacteria still linger between teeth where toothbrush bristles can’t reach. Flossing helps remove plaque and food particles from between the teeth and under the gum line.

By the age of four or five children should be able to brush their own teeth twice a day. Supervision is advised until age seven to make sure they are doing a thorough job. Each child is different, so let your dentist determine whether your child has the skill level to brush properly.

Fluoride is especially important for the development of healthy teeth. Fluoride is available in certain water sources, processed foods, toothpaste, as well as fluoride applications that one receives at the dentist. Let your dentist determine if your child needs any additional fluoride treatment for his or her teeth.

A sealant is a plastic material that is usually applied to the chewing surfaces of the back teeth—premolars and molars. This plastic resin bonds into the depressions and grooves (pits and fissures) of the chewing surfaces of back teeth. The sealant acts as a barrier, protecting enamel from plaque and acids.

Thorough brushing and flossing help remove food particles and plaque from smooth surfaces of teeth. But toothbrush bristles cannot reach all the way into the depressions and grooves to extract food and plaque. Sealants protect these vulnerable areas by "sealing out" plaque and food.

Grinding is a normal for small children. This stimulates the jaw bones to continue to grow. If your dentist sees any type of “wear pattern” on your child’s teeth, they will discuss with you the possible need for a night guard.

Bitten Lip or Tongue:
Clean the area gently with a cloth and apply cold compresses to reduce any swelling. If the area is bleeding heavily and doesn’t show signs of stopping, you may want to go to your local urgent care center or emergency room.

Knocked Out Tooth:
Hold the tooth by the crown (the white enamel part) and rinse off the root of the tooth in water if it’s dirty. Do not scrub it or remove any attached tissue fragments. If possible, gently insert and hold the tooth in its socket. If that isn’t possible, put the tooth in a cup of milk and get to the dentist as quickly as possible. Remember to take the tooth with you!

Jaw Possibly Broken:
Apply cold compresses to control swelling. Go to your dentist or a hospital emergency department immediately.

Objects Caught Between Teeth:
Try to gently remove the object with dental floss; avoid cutting the gums. Never use a sharp instrument to remove any object that is stuck between your teeth. If you can’t dislodge the object using dental floss, contact your dentist.

Toothache:
Rinse your mouth with warm water to clean it out. Gently use dental floss to ensure that there is no food or other debris caught between the teeth. Never put aspirin or any other painkiller against the gums near the aching tooth because it may burn the gum tissue. If the pain persists, contact your dentist.

Sports drinks and soft drinks have emerged as one of the most significant dietary sources of tooth decay, affecting people of all ages. Acids and acidic sugar byproducts in sports drinks and soft drinks soften tooth enamel, contributing to the formation of cavities. In extreme cases, softer enamel combined with improper brushing, grinding of the teeth, or other conditions can lead to tooth loss. Sugar-free drinks, which account for only 14 percent of all soft drink consumption, are less harmful. However, they are acidic and potentially can still cause problems. It is the way they are taken that is most important; the frequency of exposure is key. If you sip a drink all day, that is very harmful. If drank all at once after a sports practice or with a meal followed by water, it is better for your teeth.

Eating patterns and food choices among children and teens are important factors that affect how quickly youngsters may develop tooth decay. When bacteria (plaque) come into contact with sugar in the mouth, acid is produced, which attacks the teeth for 20 minutes or more. This can eventually result in tooth decay. Foods that contain sugars of any kind can contribute to tooth decay. Almost all foods, including milk or vegetables, have some type of sugar. However, they shouldn't be removed from our diets because many of them contain important nutrients and add pleasure to eating. To help control the amount of sugar you consume, read food labels and choose foods and beverages that are low in added sugars. Added sugars often are present in soft drinks, candy, cookies, and pastries.

An aphthous ulcer or canker sore is a type of mouth ulcer which presents as a painful open sore inside the mouth caused by a break in the mucous membrane. Aphthous ulcers develop in childhood and adolescence, and continue sporadically throughout life. Aphthous ulcers occur exclusively on moveable mucosa, such as buccal (cheeks) and lingual (tongue) mucosa, the floor of the mouth, and the soft palate. It is characterized as a yellow-gray ulcer surrounded by inflammation. They tend to heal without scarring in 7–10 days. Typical treatment is with topical pain relievers and salt water rinses.

The exact cause of aphthous ulcers is unknown. In some cases they are thought to be caused by an overreaction by the body's own immune system. Factors that appear to provoke them include stress, fatigue, illness, injury from accidental biting, hormonal changes, menstruation, sudden weight loss, food allergies, the foaming agent in toothpaste, SLS, and deficiencies in vitamin B12, iron, and folic acid. Some drugs, such as nicorandil, have been linked with mouth ulcers. A well-known cause for ulcers in the mouth is when the skin inside the mouth is opened up; a common cause of this is trauma. Physical trauma, such as toothbrush abrasion, poking with sharp food, accidental biting (this can be particularly common with sharp canine teeth), or orthodontic braces, can cause mouth ulcers by breaking the mucous membrane. Other factors, such as chemical irritants or thermal injury, may also lead to the development of ulcers. However, in many cases the cause is unknown.

Most children stop sucking habits on their own, but some children need the help of their parents and their pediatric dentist. When your child is old enough to understand the possible results of a sucking habit, your pediatric dentist can encourage your child to stop and talk with him or her about positive reinforcements. If this approach doesn't work, your pediatric dentist may recommend a mouth appliance that blocks sucking habits.

Lower lingual holding arch – This is a space-maintaining appliance that goes on the lower teeth. This appliance will hold the space of lost teeth so that the surrounding teeth do not tilt, shift, or move forward and loose space in the lower jaw bone.

Transpalatal bar - This is a space-maintaining appliance that goes on the upper teeth. This appliance will hold the space of lost teeth so that the surrounding teeth do not tilt, shift, or move forward and loose space in the roof of the mouth (palate).

Band and loop - This is a space-maintaining appliance that is designed for one or two teeth. A band is placed around one tooth, generally a molar, and a loop is formed to the space that is open due to premature loss of a tooth. This will keep the molar in place and not shift forward.

Distal shoe - This is a space-maintaining appliance that is designed to help the six-year molar erupt into the correct place when a primary molar is lost early.

Quad helix- A quad helix is an orthodontic appliance for the upper teeth that is cemented in the mouth. It is attached to the molars by two bands and has four active springs that widen the arch of the mouth to make room for crowded teeth or correct a posterior cross-bite, where lower teeth line up outside the upper teeth.