We have worked to compile for you some useful information about Baby Teeth and the stages to Braces, but this week we are also kicking off the Kidz 360 Character Campaign! We welcome all of the families participating in the pilot program from our school in Tempe! All WestValleyParent.com subscribers are encouraged to participate ... and even win prizes! Your feedback is always extremely important to us, so if you ever have a question, suggestion or comment, don't hesitate to contact us!

While there was never an intention for it coincide with any political milestone, the Kidz 360 campaign reinforces the ideals that President Obama outlined in his inaugural speech:

"For as much as government can do and must do, it is ultimately the faith and determination of the American people upon which this nation relies. It is the kindness to take in a stranger when the levees break, the selflessness of workers who would rather cut their hours than see a friend lose their job which sees us through our darkest hours. It is the firefighter's courage to storm a stairway filled with smoke, but also a parent's willingness to nurture a child, that finally decides our fate."

American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry

Tooth buds for your baby's first teeth begin to form at about six weeks of fetal life. Between the fourth and fifth months of fetal life, some tooth buds become evident. By about the seventh month of fetal life, the tooth buds for all of your baby's primary (deciduous) teeth are formed. At birth, the crowns -- the portions of the teeth visible above the gums -- of your baby's front teeth are already formed and contain most of their enamel covering. The crowns for some of the other primary teeth are partially formed, and the tooth buds for some of the permanent molars are forming. By the time your child is three years old, the crowns of some permanent teeth are fairly well formed, and the tooth buds for the last molars have formed.

Teething. As early as three months of age, your baby may begin teething. Teething is marked by drooling, fretting, and chewing on just about anything in an attempt to reduce the discomfort of sore, swollen gums. Some babies exhibit these symptoms for up to four months before the first tooth finally erupts. If your baby seems uncomfortable, you can help reduce the pain and swelling in his gums by giving him firm, smooth, cool, unbreakable objects to chew. Massaging the inflamed gums with a clean fingertip may also help. Medications to numb painful gums are also available.

Don't be alarmed if your baby seems less interested in the breast or the bottle while teething; sucking increases the blood flow and hence the swelling and pain of the gums. If he's old enough, you might try offering him fluids from a cup.

Baby's first tooth. Your baby's first tooth should appear when he is four to eight months old. However, it is not unusual for a child to be ten or more months old before the first tooth appears, and occasionally a baby is born with one or more teeth already erupted. Although most babies cut six to eight teeth by their first birthday, some normal babies have just two teeth or fewer. If your baby is approaching the age of one year and no teeth are evident (you may see the outlines of teeth before they erupt), you should talk to your baby's doctor about having a dental evaluation.

Baby teeth and chewing. Even though all of your baby's teeth may have erupted by the time he is 1 1/2 to 2 years of age, you must exercise care in the foods you give him. A child's chewing ability usually is not fully developed until about the age of four years. Do not give children younger than this such foods as popcorn, nuts (especially peanuts), raw vegetables such as carrots, whole grapes, hot dogs, and round candies. If these and similar food items are not properly chewed, they may lodge in a small child's windpipe and cut off the air supply.

Further information on babies and oral health can be found on the American Dental Association website.

American Association of Orthodontics

Some children as early as 5 or 6 years of age may benefit from an orthodontic evaluation. Although treatment is unusual at this early age, some preventative treatment may be indicated.

By age 7, most children have a mix of baby (primary) and adult (permanent) teeth. Some common orthodontic problems seen in children can be traced to genetics, that is they may be inherited from their parents. Children may experience dental crowding, too much space between teeth, protruding teeth, and extra or missing teeth and sometimes jaw growth problems.

Other malocclusions (literally, "bad bite") are acquired. In other words, they develop over time. They can be caused by thumb or finger-sucking, mouth breathing, dental disease, abnormal swallowing, poor dental hygiene, the early or late loss of baby teeth, accidents or poor nutrition. Trauma and other medical conditions such as birth defects may contribute to orthodontic problems as well. Sometimes an inherited malocclusion is complicated by an acquired problem. Whatever the cause, the orthodontist is usually able to treat most conditions successfully.

Orthodontists are trained to spot subtle problems with jaw growth and emerging teeth while some baby teeth are still present. The advantage for patients of early detection of orthodontic problems is that some problems may be easier to correct if they are found and treated early. Waiting until all the permanent teeth have come in, or until facial growth is nearly complete, may make correction of some problems more difficult. For these reasons, the AAO recommends that all children get a check-up with an orthodontist no later than age 7. While your child's teeth may appear straight to you, there could be a problem that only an orthodontist can detect. Of course, the check-up may reveal that your child's bite is fine, and that is comforting news.

Even if a problem is detected, chances are your orthodontist will take a "wait-and-see" approach, checking your child from time to time as the permanent teeth come in and the jaws and face continue to grow. For each patient who needs treatment, there is an ideal time for it to begin in order to achieve the best results. The orthodontist has the expertise to determine when the treatment time is right. The orthodontist's goal is to provide each patient with the most appropriate treatment at the most appropriate time.

In some cases, your orthodontist might find a problem that can benefit from early treatment. Early treatment may prevent more serious problems from developing and may make treatment at a later age shorter and less complicated. For those patients who have clear indications for early orthodontic intervention, early treatment gives your orthodontist the chance to:

* Guide jaw growth
* Lower the risk of trauma to protruded front teeth
* Correct harmful oral habits
* Improve appearance and self-esteem
* Guide permanent teeth into a more favorable position
* Improve the way lips meet

It's not always easy for parents to tell if their child has an orthodontic problem. Here are some signs or habits that may indicate the need for an orthodontic examination:

* Early or late loss of baby teeth
* Difficulty in chewing or biting
* Mouth breathing
* Thumb sucking
* Finger sucking
* Crowding, misplaced or blocked out teeth
* Jaws that shift or make sounds
* Biting the cheek or roof of the mouth
* Teeth that meet abnormally or not at all
* Jaws and teeth that are out of proportion to the rest of the face

If any of these problems are noted by parents, regardless of age, it is advisable to consult an orthodontist. It is not necessary to wait until age 7 for an orthodontic check-up.

What is Kidz 360?

Kidz360 is a concept campaign and interactive program that will allow kids in the valley to really explore who they are and if they are a contributing member to the community in which they live. To be a "360 Kid" there are Six Degrees to come full-circle and realize his/her full potential. Take a few moments this week and talk to your kids about what it means to you or your family to be a 360 family...how do you learn and grow ( that's a hard one hugh?)

For the next 6 weeks, we will be running this program on our site and in tandem in our first pilot school in Tempe. We look forward to your comments and feedback on how this program encouraged you to talk to your kids. This week we will start with the degree of being a Learner.

The Six Degrees of a 360 Kid are:

Red: Learner

Orange: Cooperative

Yellow: Compassionate

Green: Respectful

Blue: Responsible

Purple: Leader

Definition of Learn

v. learned also learnt (lûrnt), learn·ing, learns

1. To gain knowledge, comprehension, or mastery of through experience or study.

2. To fix in the mind or memory; memorize:

3.

a. To acquire experience of or an ability or a skill in: learn tolerance; learned how to whistle.

b. To become aware: learned that it was best not to argue.

4. To become informed of; find out. See Synonyms at discover.

5. Nonstandard To cause to acquire knowledge; teach.

6. Obsolete To give information to.

v.intr.

To gain knowledge, information, comprehension, or skill

How can you be a better learner? Can you draw or write two ways you can be a better learner? Send the entries to:

Parent Vine Media Group

3165 S. Alma School Rd. #29-113

Chandler, AZ 85248

At the end of the program all entries will have a chance to win tickets to the Phoenix Zoo, a $50 US Savings Bond, Tickets to upcoming shows at ASU Gammage.