Early Dental Care

According to the American Dental Association and the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry, a child’s first dental check-up should occur between the ages of 6 months to one year. Informing your child about their first dental visit is very helpful. At your child’s first visit, we will review the medical/dental health history form with you.  You and your child will meet our team and have everything explained to you.

We encourage parents to accompany their child during their visit.  This gives you an opportunity to see us working with your child and allows us to discuss dental findings and treatment needs directly with you.  A thorough head and neck examination and evaluation of the teeth and gums are performed. Radiographs (x-rays) are taken only if necessary. If no treatment is needed, the teeth will be cleaned and a fluoride treatment will be provided.

We look forward to meeting you and your child for your first appointment!

Although baby teeth, also called primary teeth, fall out, they are still very important for a number of reasons. Children need strong, healthy baby teeth in order to chew food properly, to pronounce words correctly, and most importantly to maintain space in the jaw for the permanent teeth. That is why it is important to take good care of the primary teeth by keeping them clean and healthy.

Even before the first tooth erupts, your child’s gums should be wiped gently with a wet cloth or gauze after every feeding. At the appearance of the first tooth, begin brushing your child’s teeth with water. Children should begin using fluoride toothpaste at 15 months and should be assisted during brushing to ensure that the proper technique and amount of fluoride is used. We recommend applying toothpaste to your child’s brush at the ratio of 1:1 birthdays:bristles. For example a 2 year old child would have a grain of rice amount on their brush and a 4 year old child would have a small pea’s amount of fluoridated toothpaste.

Primary teeth, if not kept clean and healthy, can develop decay. This decay can lead to infection, which can damage permanent teeth. Tooth decay in infants and young children occurs when the teeth undergo frequent and extended exposure to foods and beverages containing sugar. To keep your child’s teeth cavity free and avoid oral pain, do not allow your child to fall asleep with a bottle containing anything other than water. Milk, formula, and juice, when given to a child right before they fall asleep, can remain on the teeth and in the mouth and cause tooth decay.