Proper dental care is important at any age. The American Dental Association (ADA) recommends children first visit a pediatric dentist before they turn one. This allows children to become comfortable with visiting the dentist, parents to learn proper brushing and flossing techniques, and dentists to detect potential problems early.
Your child’s teeth began forming during the second trimester of pregnancy. Proper pediatric dental care begins at birth. Run a damp washcloth over your baby’s gums daily to help remove harmful bacteria, then use an infantwatert toothbrush with water and just a smear of toothpaste as teeth come in. Never allow your child to fall asleep with a bottle. Kids can spit while brushing around age two and should use a pea-sized amount of toothpaste with supervision until age five.
When it is time for your child to see a pediatric dentist, we want each visit to be stress-free for you and your child. We will explain each procedure before and throughout your visit, and always take the time to answer your questions.
We recommend dental sealants as part of preventive care for kids. Most tooth decay in children and teens occurs on the chewing surfaces of the back teeth. Dental sealants can be applied to these surfaces to prevent decay.
Applying sealants does not require drilling or removing tooth structure. First, we clean the tooth with special toothpaste. We then apply a special gel and wash it off. Finally, the sealant is painted on the tooth. It takes about a minute for the sealant to form a hard coat. One application can last as long as five to ten years. Sealants should be checked regularly and reapplied as necessary.
Children and adults at high risk of dental decay may benefit from using additional fluoride products, including dietary supplements (for children who do not have adequate levels of fluoride in their drinking water), mouth rinses, and professionally applied gels and varnishes.
