Children’s Dentistry
What Should I Tell My Child About The First Dental Visit?
Parents often wonder how best to prepare their child for their initial dental visit. We suggest approaching it similarly to how you might prepare for their first haircut or a visit to a shoe store. Your child’s reaction to their first dental visit might surprise you. And remember, children often look to their parents for guidance on how to feel. If you are excited, so will they. If you are fearful, they will be too.
Your Child’s First Visit to the Dentist
The first “regular” dental visit should be just after your child’s third birthday. We will gently examine your child’s teeth and gums. We may clean your child’s teeth and apply topical fluoride to help protect the teeth against decay. We will make sure your child is receiving adequate fluoride at home. Most important of all, we will review with you how to clean and care for your child’s teeth.
Understanding Tooth Development and Eruption
Discover our comprehensive teeth cleaning and dental checkup services designed to keep your smile healthy and radiant.The initial baby teeth to emerge are typically the two lower front teeth, which usually appear around 6-8 months of age. After these initial stages, the four upper incisors will appear, and new teeth will continue to emerge at regular intervals. Generally, teeth come in pairs on either side of the jaw until your child reaches approximately 2.5 years old.
By the time they are 2.5 years old, your child should have a complete set of 20 primary teeth. From ages 5 to 6, your child will begin to grow their first set of permanent teeth. Some of these new teeth will take the place of the baby teeth, while others will appear without affecting the existing ones. It’s normal for the timing of these eruptions to vary slightly and generally isn’t a cause for concern.
Baby teeth are important as they not only hold space for permanent teeth but they are important to chewing, biting, speech and appearance. For this reason it is important to maintain a healthy diet and daily hygiene.
Preventing cavities
Cavities are often caused by a diet high in sugars, acids and insufficient brushing. Reducing sugar consumption and maintaining a regular brushing routine can help mitigate this risk. The longer food residue remains on the teeth, the higher the likelihood of cavities. So try to avoid sticky sweets and sticky dried fruits.
Each time food is consumed, an acid reaction occurs as bacteria break down sugars. This acidic environment lasts for about 20 minutes, which can compromise tooth structure and potentially lead to cavities.
The consistency of saliva also affects cavity risk; thinner saliva helps to wash away food more efficiently. Diets rich in carbohydrates and sugars can lead to thicker saliva, which may facilitate acid-producing bacteria that contribute to cavities.
Cavity Prevention Tips
- Limit the frequency of meals and snacks.
- Encourage regular brushing, flossing, and rinsing.
- Watch what your child drinks..
- Avoid giving your child sticky foods.
- Make treats part of meals.
- Choose nutritious snacks.
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