Ask Anna
My name is Anna Nilvéus Olofsson and I’m a specialist in pediatric dentistry. If you have questions about children’s teeth and the best way to care for them, you can send them to me. Please use the form below.
You can also read my general tips and advice about pediatric dental care >>
Hi Anna, I have a silicone toothbrush for my toddler aged 20 months. Is this sufficient to brush his teeth or should I also supplement with brushing with traditional nylon bristles?
Sonia
Hi Sonia and thank you for your question. To brush your child’s teeth properly, I recommend also using a traditional toothbrush.
Best regards, Anna
I have braces. Now what?
With fixed orthodontic appliances, food debris and plaque easily builds up. Therefore toothbrushing is extra important, to avoid gum inflammation and cavities. 
Read more here about toothbrushing techniques and suitable brushes. It is also important to avoid sugary drinks and eating between meals. You may rinse your mouth with water after eating. Ask your dentist/hygienist for advice on what suits you best.
My little daughter aged two and a half years has dark spots on her lower molars. She says that they hurt sometimes. Can there be cavities in her teeth? We brush her teeth every morning and night, and sometimes during the day if she wants to.
Without having seen your daughter’s teeth, it is difficult to say why the spots are there. It may be cavities, or that something has happened during the development of the teeth. I suggest that you contact a dentist who can find out the cause of the spots and give her proper treatment. Good luck!
The cusps of the two permanent front teeth are whiter than the rest of the teeth. Why?
It is difficult to say why it looks like this without seeing the teeth. But sometimes the cusps of teeth are whiter due to the composition of the tooth; the inner part of a tooth is called dentin and is yellower in its color, and the dentin is covered with enamel which is whiter. The cusps contain a higher proportion of enamel and therefore has a whiter shade.
Another reason that cusps are whiter can be a mild disturbance during tooth development, for example an enhanced fluoride intake when this part of the tooth was in the mineralizing stage.
When it is time for a child to stop sucking a pacifier or his thumb?
Sucking a pacifier or a thumb affects the bite. How much depends on how often and how long the practice lasts. To reduce the effect on the bite, I advise against sucking a pacifier or thumb after age 3.
What is the most important thing when it comes to children’s teeth?
First: Always go to sleep with clean teeth. Second: Avoid eating between meals and drinking sweet beverages. If the child is thirsty at nighttime and between meals, I recommend you serve water.
How does breast or bottle feeding affect the teeth?
Breast or bottle feeding at nighttime increases the risk for caries, if the child has teeth. The mouth is drier at night, because there’s less saliva being produced, which makes the teeth more vulnerable to caries. When the child no longer has to be fed at night for nutritional reasons, I recommend water instead if the child is thirsty.
What is the right thing to do if a child falls and hits his teeth?
If a primary tooth is knocked out, never try to put it back in. Contact your dentist for advice if there is a lot of bleeding, or if teeth are knocked out, chipped, loose or pushed into the jaw.
Why are some children more prone to cavities?
Caries, which causes cavities, is mostly related to your personal habits around eating and brushing your teeth. That’s why it is so important to establish good brushing routines and let the teeth rest between meals.
