Congratulations on the family’s new addition! As a parent, you have a lot of questions about children’s dental care for your child. You have probably already done a lot of pre-birth research, and now it’s time to put everything you have learned into practice. First, let’s answer a common question:
Healthy Baby Teeth Are Important
Yes, baby teeth are just as important as permanent adult teeth. Baby teeth help children chew and speak. Baby teeth also hold space in the jaws for the permanent teeth growing under the gums We hope that the following tips help you on your journey to maintaining your children’s dental care:
Breast Feeding Tips
After breastfeeding, the Canadian Dental Hygienists Association (CDHA) recommends using a soft cloth or gauze pad to wipe inside your child’s mouth.
Don’t leave a bottle filled with milk, juice, or formula in your child’s bed for self-feeding. There is sugar in all three. Click here to book a dental appointment.
Preventing Children’s Dental Cavities
You can avoid cavities by following three fundamental daily children’s dental care tips.
- Proper Brushing: Select an age-appropriate toothbrush; brush in gentle circular motions from tooth to tooth at a 45-degree angle to the gum line;
- Flossing: It’s time to start flossing once your child’s adjacent teeth are in contact with each other.
- Mouthwash: For children aged six or older, you can consider using mouthwash as a finishing rinse.
- Keep an eye out for tooth decay Plaque forms when the combination of bacteria, food, acid, and saliva stick to the teeth. Over time, the bacteria creates acids that eat at the tooth enamel, forming a cavity.
About Sensitive Teeth
If there is an issue with sensitivity to sweet foods and cold drinks, then there might be a chance that tooth decay has started. Click here to book a dental appointment.
Visual Indicators of Early Signs of Tooth Decay
- Chalky white spots on a child’s tooth
- Light brown discoloration
- Small holes in a tooth or teeth
- Darkening of the entire tooth
If you notice any of these in your child’s mouth, see us as soon as possible for an examination. Undetected or untreated tooth decay can result in pain, infection, or tooth loss for your loved one.
Book a Dental Appointment
As with adults, your child needs to get their teeth cleaned and a dental checkup every six months. Kids should start going to the dentist soon after their first tooth erupts or around their first birthday, whichever happens first. Click here to book a dental appointment.