Since children, especially young children, are unable to adequately care for themselves, they may be unable to brush or floss well. Even with your help, there may be certain places that get missed. Unfortunately, these places are more prone to tooth decay because plaque can accumulate. If plaque is not disturbed, it can become a breeding ground for thousands of bacteria. This can ultimately result in the formation of a cavity.
Not only do regular visits to a dentist benefit your child’s oral health, but it teaches them healthy dental habits moving forward. Our Staff specialize in making dentistry as fun and comfortable as possible to provide your child with a positive dental experience. This prevents them from developing dental anxiety and teaches them that dental care is a regular part of life. Therefore, once they are grown they will continue these patterns to maintain their own oral health.
As mentioned before, dentists have specialized training that allows them to create a positive dental experience for children. This allows them to communicate with children in an effective way that children understand and respond to. Their caring nature, colorful offices, and positive approach to dentistry will help prevent your child from developing dental anxiety.
As you can see, there are some compelling reasons as to why kids dentistry is important. Not only will it improve your child’s oral health and prevent future problems from developing into major issues, but it will teach your child good dental habits. Additionally, it will free them from the monster known as dental anxiety that many people suffer from. For these reasons, and many more, you should be sure to take your child to a dentist at least twice a year.
A child’s first visit to the dentist should be enjoyable. Children are not born with a natural fear of the dentist, but they can fear the unknown. Our staff makes a special effort to use pleasant, non-frightening, simple words to describe each treatment. We want you and your child to feel at ease . The more you and your child know about the first visit, the better you will feel.
The American Academy of (Kids) Pediatric Dentistry recommends…
Children should visit the dentist by their first birthday. It is important that your child’s newly-erupted teeth (erupting at six and 12 months of age) receive proper dental care and benefit from proper oral hygiene habits right from the beginning.
Your child’s first primary or baby teeth will begin to erupt between the ages of six and 12 months, and will continue to erupt until about age three. During this time, your child’s gums may feel tender and sore. To help alleviate this discomfort, we recommend that you soothe the gums by rubbing a clean finger or a cool, wet cloth across them. You may also choose to make use of a teething ring. When your child has finished teething, you can expect a total of 20 primary teeth.
Your child’s primary / milk / baby teeth are shed at various times throughout childhood. Permanent teeth begin erupting at age six, and continue until age 21. Adults have 28 permanent teeth (32, including wisdom teeth).
As your child’s teeth erupt, be sure to examine them every two weeks, looking for lines and discoloration that may be caused by decay. Remember that sugary foods and liquids can attack a new tooth, so take care that your child brushes after feeding or eating. We recommend brushing two times a day for optimal oral hygiene.
Brushing can be fun, and your child should brush as soon as the first tooth arrives. When a baby’s tooth erupts, parents should brush the tooth with a soft-bristled toothbrush and a pea-sized amount of toothpaste. For children younger than two, do not use fluoride toothpaste unless advised to do so . We suggest reviewing proper tooth brushing procedures with your child.
Tooth decay is caused by sugars left in your mouth that turn into an acid, which can break down your teeth. Children are at high risk for tooth decay for a simple reason: many children and young adults / adolescents do not practice regular, good oral hygiene habits. Proper brushing and flossing routines combined with regular dental visits help keep tooth decay away.
