Start them young.
Caring for your child’s teeth early on is essential to their development. By starting early with their oral health, this will set them up for success later on. Here at Paloma Dental, we are proud to offer a full range of dental care services for the whole family. We truly believe that good oral hygiene starts in childhood!
If your child is due for a dental checkup or is ready for their first visit, call Paloma Dental today to set up an appointment with Dr. Bassett. We love seeing kids – they truly brighten our day!
As soon and your child’s teeth emerge, is the time to start caring for them! With an early start, your baby will be able to get used to the daily routine of brushing. Early on, caring for your baby’s teeth is as simple as using a soft washcloth over your finger to gently cleanse them. After your baby’s first visit to Dr. Bassett, she will tell you when it’s time to switch to a small gentle brush. The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry recommends that check-ups should start at your child’s first birthday and occur every six months thereafter.
In general, most small children do not have the coordination to properly brush on their own until the age of 6 or 7, which is also the time the first adult teeth start to grow in! However, you can start teaching the importance of good dental hygiene and technique before then. For technique, leading by example is the best way to teach your child how to properly clean your teeth to avoid the buildup of plaque.
Only a grain of rice sized amount of toothpaste is needed when brushing your baby’s teeth; once the child turns 3, you can graduate to using a pea-sized amount of toothpaste.
Children should have their teeth brushed twice a day – once in the morning and once at night. A thorough brushing should take about two minutes, spending a good amount of time on the back teeth.
Children have their own unique risks when proper oral hygiene and maintenance isn’t followed.
- Baby bottle decay. Often a baby goes to bed suckling on a bottle, which keeps the teeth covered in cavity-producing starches. To avoid decay, cleanse your baby’s teeth after each feeding and don’t give them anything sweet (even milk) before bedtime.
- Poor habits. Habits such as thumb sucking and tongue thrusting can all cause issues with alignment such as an open bite.
- Premature tooth loss. Tooth loss usually affects children who have tooth decay or don’t have enough jaw space for their teeth. If this is the case for your child, make sure you get in to see Dr. Bassett to start a treatment plan to correct the issue and avoid more serious issues later on.
