Introducing Your Child To Oral Care
Spark a lifetime of healthy habits by being their best role model. When you show a positive approach to dental care, your child will follow in your footsteps, setting the stage for a bright, healthy smile.
Here are some tips to make tooth brushing more fun and less of a struggle:
- Let your child pick a fun toothbrush and choose which to use.
- Brush your teeth together as a model.
- Let them brush first, then you finish up.
- Read fun books about tooth brushing.
- Encourage good habits, even if they resist.
Why Is Children’s Dental Care So Important?
It might seem like dental care for kids isn’t a big deal since baby teeth fall out anyway. But those first 20 teeth, usually by age 3, are actually the foundation for a healthy smile. They help guide adult teeth, which start coming in around age 12, with wisdom teeth showing up later on. Taking care of these early teeth is key because they set the stage for a child’s lifelong oral health, making every smile matter well beyond their childhood.
Poor Dental Health Hurts
Many people think gum disease is just an adult issue, but studies show that gingivitis—the first stage of periodontal disease—is widespread among kids and teens. Chronic gingivitis is common and can cause gums to swell, turn red, and bleed easily. The good news? It’s preventable and treatable with regular brushing, flossing, and professional dental care. If left unchecked, though, it can lead to more serious forms of gum disease down the road.
Baby Teeth Set the Stage for Adult Teeth
Healthy baby teeth play a big role in your child’s dental development since they make room for permanent teeth. If those primary teeth are unhealthy or don’t grow properly, it can lead to similar issues with their adult teeth. For example, when baby teeth don’t come in correctly, they might crowd out the space needed for other teeth. The bright side? If it’s spotted early, space maintainers can step in to help and keep everything on track.
Injuries
You can help protect your child from oral injuries by supervising playtime and discouraging them from putting foreign objects in their mouth. For younger kids who are active in sports, using a mouth guard is highly recommended. It can prevent many injuries to teeth, gums, lips, and other parts of the mouth, keeping their smile safe and sound.
Your Child’s First Appointment
For all our patients, health, comfort, and satisfaction are our top priorities. In pediatric dentistry, we pay special attention to the unique challenges our youngest patients face in the chair. We focus on key oral health markers and milestones specific to children, and we make sure to speak with your child in a friendly, engaging way that helps them feel safe and at ease.
Show and Tell
Some kids are curious explorers with endless questions, while others might feel a bit shy or even anxious about new experiences. We want every child to feel safe, comfortable, and positive about their dental visit. The best way to do that is through a kid-friendly conversation. We like to start each appointment by listening to their thoughts and concerns, then explain what we’ll be doing during their visit, making sure to answer any questions they may have.
Gentle Examination
Focusing on oral health markers specific to children, we’ll gently check your child’s gums, tongue, teeth, and overall health. We keep an eye on the development of both their primary and adult teeth, looking out for any areas that might need a little extra care at home or during future visits.
Keeping You in the Loop
After the exam, we’ll share helpful advice for both your child and you. Sometimes, we have tips to make brushing those tricky spots at home a bit easier. We’ll also let you know if there are any areas we’ll be monitoring and what to keep an eye on between visits. Together, we’ll make a great team for your child’s oral health!
Contact us today
to schedule an initial consultation & exam.
Your consultation will include an examination of everything from your teeth, gums and soft tissues to the shape and condition of your bite. Generally, we want to see how your whole mouth looks and functions. Before we plan your treatment we want to know everything about the health and aesthetic of your smile, and, most importantly, what you want to achieve so we can help you get there.
Frequently Asked Questions
Absolutely. Brushing before bed is key to getting rid of bacteria and sugars that can lead to cavities. If left unchecked, they have all night to cause trouble. Plus, when your child sleeps, saliva production decreases, and since saliva naturally helps keep the mouth clean, brushing at bedtime is extra important.
You can gently clean your baby’s gums and teeth with special infant toothbrushes that slip over your finger. Water works well instead of toothpaste, as babies tend to swallow it. It’s also best to avoid fluoride toothpaste for children under 2 years old.
Make brushing fun by brushing together as a family and letting your child choose their own toothbrush. Use a timer or play a song to make sure they brush for a full two minutes. And don’t forget to show them how to brush all sides of their teeth using gentle circular motions.
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