Your child’s dental care and oral health are a regular part of your child’s growth and development. It’s important to know how to properly care for your child’s teeth at various ages, and how often they should visit the dentist for regular dental checkups and cleanings.
The Importance of Preventative Care
One of the most significant things you can do for your child’s teeth is have a pediatric dentist you feel comfortable with. As your child grows you will have questions about dental care and should be able to ask freely as concerns arise.
The first time your child meets the pediatric dentist should be around one year of age, according to the American Dental Association. After that, visits should be every six months unless there is a reason to go more often. These visits allow the dentist to observe your child’s teeth and mouth as they develop, and give the dentist a baseline for what to expect in coming years.
Dental check-ups provide ample opportunity for discussion between dentist and parent, and may include topics such as dietary preferences and oral habits like thumb sucking or pacifier usage.
As your child grows, dental visits will lead to more thorough exams, cleanings, and treatments. Tooth development and decay will be charted, and protective treatments will be applied. Fluoride treatments, or “fluoride varnish”, protect tooth enamel and may be applied as often as four times per year.
When the first set of molars erupt, a dental sealant may be discussed to help prevent tooth decay. This is a highly recommended practice in which a thin coating is painted onto teeth, providing a shield from bacteria, acid, and food particles. Dental sealants can last several years, depending on your child’s health and eating habits.
Dental Care & Brushing Routines At Home
Creating a healthy oral hygiene routine with your child at an early age will help tremendously in the long. By starting a fun teeth brushing routine when your child is a toddler, you instill the importance of a healthy smile they grow up with instead of growing into.
The essential elements in a child’s dental care routine should include:
- Brushing teeth for 2 minutes every morning and evening
- Avoiding excessive amounts of sugary foods
- Flossing once every day
If you have questions or concerns about your child’s brushing habits or their general dental health, call Kids Dental Specialists in Chino Hills. We are proud to be your go-to source for all your pediatric dental health and oral hygiene needs.
