Your child's first visit to the dentist should be made after the first teeth erupt and before the first birthday. Tooth decay may appear as soon as just after the eruption of the very first tooth. As parents you should prepare your child before the dental visit to understand what will happen there. It is important that you do not transfer your anxieties about the dentist to your child.

 •   During this early visit your dentist will: Check for tooth decay or other dental problems.
 •   Advise you about your child's dental hygiene and problems like thumb sucking and nursing bottle decay.
 •   Identify your child's fluoride needs.
 •   Get your child used to the dental office environment and the dentist.
 •   Help your child build a lifetime of good dental habits.

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You can help prevent cavities by following these tips:

• Brush twice a day with a fluoride toothpaste.
• Floss daily or use an interdental cleaner.
• Eat nutritious and balanced meals and limit snacking.
• Check with your dentist about use of supplemental fluoride, which strengthens your teeth, and about use of dental sealants (a plastic protective coating) applied to the chewing surfaces of the back teeth to protect them from decay.
• Visit your dentist regularly for professional cleanings and oral examination.

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Even savvy shoppers can be baffled by the seemingly endless variety of dental care products. Choose products that carry the American Dental Association Seal of Acceptance — an important symbol of a dental product's safety and effectiveness. Oral care products that may carry the ADA Seal include toothpaste, manual and electric toothbrushes, floss and other interdental cleaning aids, mouthrinses and oral irrigators.

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Treat yourself to a new toothbrush every three to four months, or sooner if the bristles become worn, splayed or frayed. A hard, brittle brush can injure your gums. Children's brushes may need to be replaced more often, as they can wear them out more quickly.

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Yes. Choosing the right toothbrush can help prevent damage to your teeth and gums. Use an ADA-accepted toothbrush that has polished bristles, as they are less likely to injure gum tissue. Also use a size and shape that feels comfortable and allows you to reach the surfaces of every tooth. Replace your brush if the bristles become worn, splayed or frayed. A hard, brittle brush can injure your gums. Because children often chew on their brushes, they can become worn out more quickly.

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Thorough brushing twice a day, and cleaning between the teeth daily with floss or other interdental cleaners, remove plaque. Keep these tips in mind when brushing your teeth. Use a soft-bristled toothbrush. Place the brush at a 45-degree angle to the teeth and use a gentle tooth-wide, back-and-forth motion. Remember to clean the inside teeth surfaces where plaque deposits are heavy, and clean the back teeth and tongue. Replace your brush when the bristles become frayed or worn — about every three to four months.

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Yes. Even though teeth are protected by a hard layer of enamel, they can become worn out from improper toothbrushing. Toothbrush abrasion can occur on the crown of the teeth as well as in the softer cementum that covers the tooth roots, which can be exposed by receding gums. These exposed surfaces can become more prone to decay. When you brush, be sure to use gentle, short, tooth-wide strokes.

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Floss and other interdental cleaners remove plaque from between the teeth and under the gumline, areas where the toothbrush can't reach. If you haven't been in the habit, it's never too late to start. When flossing, keep in mind these tips. Gently ease the floss between the teeth and gumline, never snap it. Form a "c" against the sides of both teeth and gently rub the floss up and down the tooth, moving it from under the gumline to the top of the tooth. Establish a regular pattern of flossing and remember to floss the backside of the last teeth. If you use interdental cleaners, ask your dentist how to use them properly, to avoid injuring your gums.

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Oral irrigating devices use a stream of water to remove food particles from around the teeth. They are meant to be used as an aid and not to replace regular brushing or cleaning between the teeth with floss or interdental cleaners. Oral irrigators are helpful for people who have braces or fixed partial dentures.

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We're all concerned about infectious diseases in dentistry. So it's good to know that Dr. Meiselman's office, always a leader in providing the safest environment for your treatment, exceeds the American Dental Association's guidelines for sterilization and disinfection. We ensure that all hand pieces and instruments are heat sterilized for your family's safety and health.

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• Some people don't think it's important to see their dentist or their dental hygienist on a regular basis, these people are called procrastinators. Maybe your husband is one. Does this sound like him? "My teeth don't really hurt." "I'll see the dentist soon." "I can't afford it right now." "I really just don't have the time."
• Procrastinators can cause small problems to become big problems later on. But if you wait long enough you won't be called a procrastinator anymore, you'll be called a denture wearer.

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