The healthiest sets of teeth that dentists in Costa Rica can ever hope to examine are usually hidden deep in the gum tissue of newborn babies. These tiny pearls are not visible until they start to break through the tissue, which is something that starts to happen at the sixth month of life.

Primary teeth are visible by the age of three, which is when they start to grow and develop at a solid pace. Three years later, these healthy teeth start to fall out, and they are replaced by adult teeth, which is when dental issues are more likely to begin.

For the most part, caring for baby teeth is easy. The dental healthcare professionals at the Flikier Institute of Oral Rehabilitation, a renowned practice in Costa Rica, make the following recommendations:

Avoid Bottle Teeth Syndrome: When babies take nourishment in the form of juice and formula served in bottles, they start a lifelong exposure to sugars, the main catalyst of tooth decay. Babies should not suck on bottles for extended periods; bottles should be taken away when they are done feeding. Likewise, babies who fall asleep with a bottle in their mouths run a greater risk of bottle tooth decay.

Early Brushing: Decades ago, school children in Costa Rica were taught to brush several times a day, a practice that easily led to problematic over-brushing. Parents of children whose baby teeth have not broken through should their babies’ gum tissue with a moist cloth after feeding; the idea is to avoid plaque buildup. Once baby teeth are visible, they can be softly brushed no more than twice a day.

First Dental Appointment: The Flikier Institute recommends the first dental exam to take place around the first birthday of a child. The focus of this early evaluation is on the gums, maxillary structure and oral anatomy.

At the Flikier Institute, children are welcomed at Dental Park, a special section they can truly call their own. Dental Park is the creation of Dr. Daniel Lelchuk, who specializes in pediatric dentistry. The décor of this section is unique in Costa Rica; young patients find the colorful, dinosaur-themed dentist chair irresistible.

For more information about Dental Park and child dental care in Costa Rica, contact the Flikier Institute at 2232-1626 or 1-866-638-1102 from North America.