Dentistry for Kids

Your Child’s First Visit

Before their first birthday, every child should make their first visit to the dentist, according to the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry.

At this stage, between 6 months and 1 year, your child’s teeth are beginning to erupt and show through their gums. It’s important that they receive proper dental care and observation. We’ll also teach you, as a parent, how to care for your child’s teeth … and when and how to help them learn to do it themselves.

The Discomfort of New Teeth

Everyone knows the pain of “teething”… even if we don’t remember it ourselves. Your child’s gums will feel tender and sore at times as their teeth erupt between the ages of 6 months and three years old.

During this time, you can soothe their discomfort simply by rubbing a clean finger – or a cool wet cloth – across the gum line. Teething rings are another common way to deal with this. If you need help selecting the right teething ring, or if these methods don’t seem to work, our friendly staff is here to help and offer you suggestions. There are even some medications available for when teething pain appears extreme, but we recommend you only use these with your dentist’s approval.

Your Plan For Proper Child Dental Care

Developing good brushing habits now will serve children the rest of their lives. Unfortunately, many children and adolescents do not practice good habits, and dental problems follow them into adulthood.

In addition to regular brushing, here are some things we recommend to foster lifelong dental health habits:

• Routine dental checkups and cleanings twice per year.
• Fluoride treatments twice per year.
• Fluoride pills as recommended by the dentist, usually after two years.
• Dental sealants to protect those soft baby teeth and prevent decay from forming, if recommended by the dentist.

How Many Teeth Should Your Child Have?

Teeth begin erupting at around 6 months of age and usually continue until about age three. At this point, your child will have 20 primary – baby – teeth.

These teeth are later shed as permanent teeth form beneath them. Don’t worry if the neighbor’s kid lost their first tooth at age four and yours still hasn’t at five. There’s no hard and fast rule as to when new teeth should appear, and ages can vary widely among children.

Between the ages of six and twenty-one, your child will steadily lose their baby teeth and new, permanent teeth will appear. By the time your child reaches adulthood, he or she should have 28 permanent teeth, or 32 if their wisdom teeth come in.

Learning Healthy Oral Hygiene Habits

Many people don’t realize how important it is to care for a young child’s teeth. Or how often you need to do it. Because primary teeth are soft, they are more susceptible to decay.

We recommend you brush your child’s teeth four times per day: once after each meal and once at bedtime. Sugary foods and liquids are especially dangerous for new teeth, so make sure you brush carefully. Also, never give children juices or sugary drinks at bedtime – water is always best.

You’ll want to involve your child with brushing early on. Our staff recommend that you make it fun, sing songs, play games with them. Help them hold the brush and learn how to do it from the very beginning.

For children under two, use a soft-bristled brush and pea-sized amount of children’s toothpaste. Don’t use adult toothpaste, especially those containing fluoride unless your dentist directs you to do so.

Also, inspect your child’s teeth every few weeks, looking for lines, discoloration, or signs of decay. If you see something, make sure to let your dentist know. As for flossing, your dentist will tell you when the time is right as long as you maintain regular check-ups.