Preventing dental issues is the passion of every pediatric dentist and here at Children’s Dentistry, we make it our priority to see that every child that walks through our door is prepared and equipped with good oral health habits for a lifetime of healthy smiles.
The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry recommends visiting the pediatric dentist every 6 months beginning at your child’s first birthday. Routine visits will start your child on the path to good dental health which often leads to good overall health.
During your child’s visits, our pediatric dentists are well trained and experienced in using positive and nonthreatening words and terms in order to make going to the dentist as enjoyable as possible.
Babies are born without the bacteria that cause dental caries – the disease that leads to cavities. Caregivers pass on germs by sharing saliva – often by sharing spoons when testing food before feeding it to babies, by cleaning off a pacifier in their mouth instead of with water, and through other activities where saliva is shared.
These germs can then start the process that causes cavities even before babies have teeth, so it is important to avoid sharing saliva with your baby right from the start.
To prevent cavities in your child, follow these recommendations:
Begin daily brushing as soon as the child’s first tooth erupts. By age 4 or 5, children should be able to brush their own teeth twice a day with supervision until around age 8. However, each child is different. We can help you determine when your child is brushing properly.
Cavities, also known as dental caries, are the most common chronic disease in children. Fluoride toothpastes and treatments can help prevent cavity formation in children and are recommended by the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP).
The following fluoride recommendations can help prevent cavities:
Fluoride is found in many foods and water.
Brushing and flossing are the foundation of good oral hygiene, however, unfortunately, they cannot reach every nook and cranny present in our teeth. This is why applying sealants is so important.
Sealants are a fast and easy way of protecting your child’s teeth. Sealants act as barriers to cavity-prone areas. They are usually applied to the chewing surfaces of back teeth and sometimes used to cover deep pits and grooves. Both primary and permanent teeth can benefit from sealants.
