According to the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry, the child should have his or her first dental exam by age 1. The dentist will examine your child's teeth and discuss proper infant oral hygiene instructions. This is recommended to prevent development of future dental problems.

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Typically the lower two central teeth will erupt around 6 months of age, followed by the upper two central teeth. The rest of the primary teeth will erupt in the following 18-24 months and all 20 teeth should be present by 2-3 years of age.

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The answer is yes. Primary teeth or "baby teeth" are important in speech and function. Besides needing baby teeth to chew foods they act as a space saver for the future adult, permanent teeth when the time comes for those teeth to erupt.

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Baby bottle tooth decay, also known as early childhood caries, is rampant decay in primary teeth secondary to prolonged usage of the bottle, especially during the night. It is often the result of leaving the bottle, containing juice or milk, in the baby's mouth overnight while the child is sleeping resulting in gross decay of his or her teeth. Therefore it is never a good idea to nurse a child with anything except water in their bedtime bottle.

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The answer is as soon as you see teeth erupt. At infancy you can use a piece of gauze to wipe your baby's teeth after meals. This will help to reduce plaque build-up which can lead to decay.

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You can start placing a pea-sized amount of toothpaste on your child's toothbrush at age 2 or when he or she is able to spit the toothpaste out properly. Children's toothpastes contain a lower fluoride content and is recommended for use with young children. Special non-fluoridated toothpastes are available for children under 2. As always, the parent should supervise and assist the child in brushing, until he or she is old enough to brush himself, usually by age 6.

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Sealants are protective plastic material that is often white-colored or clear that is placed over the chewing surfaces of teeth into the grooves of the tooth. This helps to reduce bacteria filled plaque from settling in and attacking the most vulnerable part of the tooth, which can result in cavities.

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Thumb-sucking is normal for infants, most children stop by age 2. Start discouraging it by age 4, prolonged sucking can result in crooked teeth and a poor bite, which may require future orthodontics to correct. You can discuss methods of reducing thumb-sucking with your family dentist.

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Mouthguards are soft plastic appliances that are worn by the child during physical activity. It helps to reduce injury to the mouth and jaw during sporting events. They can be custom-fitted by the dentist to assure a good fit to provide adequate protection.

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