If you are a parent, beginning early dental care is essential. This will provide your child with the opportunity to build a relationship with their dentist in Port Moody.
If you are a parent, beginning early dental care is essential. This will provide your child with the opportunity to build a relationship with their dentist in Port Moody. This will make dental cleanings and exams a positive experience for both you and your child. With that said, it is common for parents to have numerous questions regarding their child’s oral health. Decayed baby teeth, dental emergencies, and other issues are new experiences for parents and require the care of a dentist nearby. As you establish a dental care plan for your child, refer to the eight facts below to guide you.
1. A dental home
Young children are recommended to visit the same dental office if possible, for the majority of their oral hygiene care. Why? When you establish a dental home for your child it allows them to feel a sense of comfort when they are in the presence of their dentist. When children only visit their dentist when a problem arises, it typically generates a negative relationship or association. Visiting the same dentist regularly provides more consistent care. For this reason, regular checkups are vital.
2. The necessity of oral care for baby teeth
Patients often hear from others that baby teeth are insignificant since they fall out eventually. This is far from the truth. Skipping out on oral health in these formative years can result in substantial problems down the line. Baby teeth not only allow your child to eat, speak, and bite, but they also serve as placeholders for adult teeth. Early tooth loss can lead to crookedness, crowding, and the need for braces. Additionally, these teeth allow your child to establish good oral care habits that will last a lifetime.
3. The right time for pediatric dentistry
Your child is never too young for their first dental appointment. Generally, it is recommended to bring your baby in as soon as their first tooth has appeared. However, scheduling a dental appointment before their first birthday is best; this helps them adapt to being in a dental clinic early on.
4. Cleaning your child’s baby teeth
Your child will not be able to brush their teeth until they are old. This is natural, and you should expect to provide them with assistance until your child reaches the age of seven. For infants, you can begin to clean their teeth by wiping their gums with a clean washcloth after feedings. After a tooth emerges, you can start using a washcloth to clean it gently. Also, to increase your knowledge, speak with a child’s dentist about how to handle each stage of your child’s oral development.
5. Teething
You will mostly notice that your child’s baby teeth come in pairs. Usually, the top two teeth on the top or bottom jaw will first erupt. Teething will continue periodically until a child reaches the age of two to three years old. At this point, their final primary set of molars will come in.
6. Thumb sucking
Many children suck their thumbs. This form of self-comfort is a hard habit to break, but children must stop it. Frequent thumb sucking can result in alignment issues which will require braces to correct as your child matures.
7. Wisdom teeth removal
Your wisdom teeth are the final and trickiest teeth to come in. To determine if your child’s wisdom teeth require removal, you will need to find a dentist near you. For some children, there is enough room in the mouth for their wisdom teeth to come in with only mild discomfort. With that said, wisdom teeth can also be impacted and place a child at risk for infections and decay, so be sure to discuss with their dentist.
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