LA and Santa Monica Braces Expert Discusses Transition from Baby to Adult Teeth - By: Atoosa Nikaeen

LOS ANGELES, BEVERLY HILLS AND SANTA MONICA, CALIFORNIA-- Children look forward to the rite of passage of losing that first baby tooth and earning a visit from the Tooth Fairy.

In addition to leaving money under the child’s pillow, the Tooth Fairy would be wise to leave a reminder for parents that now are a great time to reiterate to their children how important proper oral hygiene is. After all, the teeth that take the place of those missing baby teeth must last a lifetime, said Los Angeles and Santa Monica braces expert Dr. Atoosa Nikaeen.

Children’s baby teeth fall out in the order in which they came in, according to the Mayo Clinic Web site.

Parents should be careful not to mistake the first permanent molars with baby teeth, since they do not replace any deciduous teeth and they erupt behind the last baby molars, Nikaeen said.

A majority of children begin losing their first teeth by age 6 or 7, and girls generally begin losing their teeth before boys do. By the time a child reaches age 13, the last of his/her baby teeth usually have fallen out.

What To Do With A Loose Tooth

When a child announces that they have a loose tooth, encourage them to gently wiggle it, but not to attempt pulling it out before it’s ready to fall out on its own, said Nikaeen, a Los Angeles and Santa Monica Invisalign provider. Removing a tooth too early can leave the broken root more susceptible to infection .

A New Set of Not-So-Pearly Whites?

Once a child’s adult teeth begin erupting, they will be noticeably larger than the baby teeth they replace. Newly erupted adult teeth also tend to have clearly defined ridges and can be less white than the baby teeth.

All of this is temporary and will change as the teeth are used for chewing and biting, said the Santa Monica invisible braces expert.

Once a child reaches age 7 and has begun losing some baby teeth, the American Association of Orthodontists recommends scheduling an initial consultation with an orthodontist .

“There are many orthodontic problems that can be corrected in a less invasive manner, provided they are identified early on before a child’s jaw growth has slowed or completed,” Nikaeen said.

During this initial appointment, an orthodontist can determine whether there is enough room for the child’s adult teeth to erupt properly and take measures to correct the issue if necessary.

Promoting Good Oral Hygiene

Once children begin losing their baby teeth, Nikaeen said it is a good idea to help them prepare for a lifetime of good dental health with the following dental care tips listed on the Mayo Clinic site:

Maintain a schedule of routine visits to a pediatric or family dentist at least twice annually.

Consult with a dentist about the benefits of flouride treatments and/or dental sealants, which can help prevent tooth decay.

Limit drinking sugary drinks and eating between meals and before bedtime.

Remind children to brush in the morning, after meals and at bedtime.

Teach children to floss properly and remind them to do so daily.

Replace their tooth brush every two to three months.

About Dr. Atoosa Nikaeen

Dr. Nikaeen graduated with honors from dental school in 1993 and received a doctorate in dental surgery (DDS). She gained experience practicing general dentistry for several years before attending Columbia University School of Dentistry and Oral Surgeons in New York, where she earned her post-doctoral education in orthodontics and received an orthodontic specialty certificate.

In addition to running her practice, Dr. Nikaeen is a faculty member at the University of California in Los Angeles (UCLA) Orthodontic Department and teaches orthodontic residents.

Dr. Nikaeen’s Los Angeles practice serves patients throughout Southern California, including Beverly Hills and Santa Monica.

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About the Author

If you would like to learn more about tooth development in children or you would like more information on the Los Angeles and Santa Monica orthodontist or Santa Monica orthodontics practice of Dr. Atoosa Nikaeen, please visit her Web site: http://www.invisibraces.com/

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