Children’s Dentistry

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 office 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 from the moment your family arrives at our office. The more you and your child know about the first visit, the better you will feel.

The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry recommends that children should visit the dentist by their first birthday. It is important that your child’s newly-erupted teeth (erupting at 6-12 months of age) receive proper dental care and benefit from proper oral hygiene habits right from the beginning.

Getting to know your teeth is fun!

When New Teeth Arrive

Your child’s first primary, or “baby” teeth will begin to erupt between the ages of 6-12 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 teeth are shed at various times throughout childhood, and their permanent teeth begin erupting at age 6, and continue until age 21. Adults have 32 permanent teeth (including 4 wisdom teeth.

Adopting Healthy Oral Hygiene Habits

Parents should start brushing their child’s teeth as soon as the first tooth arrives, which is typically a lower front incisor around 6 months of age. We recommend you use a soft-bristled toothbrush along with a very small amount (about the size of a grain of rice) of fluoridated toothpaste. For optimal oral hygiene, we recommend brushing twice a day and flossing between the teeth once a day.

As your child’s teeth continue to erupt into the mouth, it is important for parents to regularly look for discoloration (chalky white or brown in color) that may indicate tooth decay. The enamel surrounding primary/baby teeth is very thin so cavities can develop quickly in between trips to the dentist for check-ups. Remember that sugary foods and liquids that isn’t adequately cleared away can, and will, attack new teeth.

If you notice signs of tooth decay, contact us immediately so we can arrange an appointment with your dentist.

Preventing Tooth Decay with Regular Checkups

Tooth decay is caused when sugars left in your mouth are turned into acid by bacteria (plaque). This acid breaks down your teeth. Children are at high risk for tooth decay for a simple reason — many children and adolescents do not practice regular, good oral hygiene habits. Proper brushing and flossing routines, combined with regular dental visits, help keep tooth decay away.

Your child should visit the dentist at least every six months for regular dental cleanings and checkups. We recommend fluoride varnish treatments twice a year along with hygiene appointments to keep the teeth cavity-free and gums healthy.

If your child presents with deep, bacteria-trapping grooves in their back molar teeth, sealants will likely be recommended by your dentist as another ‘line of defence’ against cavities. These can be easily and comfortably placed, and effectively “seal” and smooth those hard-to-clean grooves, preventing decay from forming. Sealants can last for several years, and will be monitored at regular checkups.