TRAVIS AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. -- Many parents are unsure of the age their children should be for their first visit to the dentist.
The answer that comes straight from the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry is "First visit by first birthday." At this point, your baby will have one or several teeth and you should know how to care for them and the ones that follow.

Many people are of the mindset that since they are just baby teeth and they will fall out anyway they are not as important as the permanent teeth. This could not be more false! Children with healthy teeth are able to eat better, smile more easily and can learn how to speak clearly.

Baby teeth will stay with the child for at least six years and some can hang around for almost 10 to 12 years. The trauma introduced when you have to fix cavities or even pull baby teeth can be very difficult to a young child. The teeth also serve a very important purpose in holding the correct spaces for permanent teeth to come in, saving money on the potential need for braces later in life.

You might be wondering why so early? The earlier you receive education on how to take care of your child's teeth, the more problems that can be avoided. Early childhood caries, also known as baby bottle tooth decay, is a common dental problem that affects many children. This is usually caused by the baby going to sleep with a bottle containing milk or juice.

When the teeth have a constant sugar source, bacteria feed off those carbohydrates and break down the teeth very rapidly. The amount of time the teeth are exposed to sugars is also an important factor. The more you allow your baby to sip on things with a high amount of sugar, the more time bacteria have to produce acids which cause cavities. A baby should never go to sleep with anything in a bottle or cup except water. Training cups, also called sippy cups, should only be used as a transitional step, not a long-term solution.

Teeth and gums should be wiped off after each feeding. This not only gets the plaque and harmful bacteria off the gums, but it also gets your child used to having someone else work in their mouth. This can make it easier to help them brush their teeth later in life and for them to accept a dentist doing an exam.

To clean your baby's gums, use a damp gauze pad or washcloth. The first dental exam can also help determine if the toddler needs extra preventative measures, such as fluoride treatments in areas where the water may not be fluoridated. Other issues a dentist can address are thumb-sucking habits or unusual dental conditions.

When teeth do come in, use a child-size toothbrush with soft bristles and gently brush the teeth. A gauze pad or washcloth can still be used in areas where there are not teeth. Once the child is old enough to brush without swallowing toothpaste, around age two, they should be using a small amount of toothpaste containing fluoride to ensure strong teeth.

The Tricare Dental Program is a great way to provide for your child's dental needs. Enrollment in this plan is not automatic until the age of four, so you have to visit the Web site to enroll: www.tricaredentalprogram.com/tdptws/home.jsp. Children under the age of four may be enrolled at any time, providing that the child is eligible in the Defense Enrollment Eligibility Reporting System. The DEERS Web site also has a list of local pediatric dentists who will accept the Tricare Plan.

Give your child a head start by making sure that they are provided a healthy, well-balanced diet and that you are taking care of their mouths while they still can't. The first baby visit with a dentist will establish good oral hygiene techniques and ensure that you are taking steps toward the prevention of potential problems later in life.

There is a wealth of information available at the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry's Web site, www.aapd.org, and on the ADA's Web site, www.ada.org. If you have any questions, please contact your local pediatric dentist or the David Grant USAF Medical Center's Arthur J. Sachsel Dental clinic at 423-7001.