Warren Dental Office Features Your Healthy Smile Timeline: Ages 1 to 20
Since you have a lifetime of smiles to care for not only for yourself, but also for your family our Warren Dental Office Features “Your Healthy Smile Timeline: Ages 1 to 20.“ Over the next four weeks, we’re going to look at a timeline for a lifetime of healthy smiles! To help make it more helpful and actionable for your life, we will break down the features into four different age categories. This will give us an opportunity to create a focus, while highlighting some “age-specific” milestones and tips. Our Warren Dental Office Features Your Healthy Smile Timeline: Ages 1 to 20, to kick-off a closer look at your dental health from day one.
Even if you don’t fall into the age range of our first feature today, I’m sure you will find it beneficial because you know or care for someone who does. So pass this helpful dental health timeline along, by sharing this post with your family and friends. I’m sure they will also find it useful and they will thank you for it later!
The first age group we are focusing on is 1 to 20 year olds, which includes both children and teens. To help highlight the milestones and tips, we’ve divided the information into developmental events, dentist connection, and oral hygiene routine for a better visual timeline.
0-12 Months
Developmental Events:
- First tooth erupts
Dentist Connection:
- First visit to the dentist can start by first birthday. This will help your child get a good start on better oral health for the rest of their lives.
Oral Hygiene Routine:
- Avoid giving a bottle at bedtime, it can cause baby bottle tooth decay.
- Begin brushing once thefirst tooth has grown in. There are very soft toothbrushes for early teeth, or you can also use a wash cloth.
- To ease teething pain, rub gums with finger, use a frozen teething ring or pain relief gels.
1-3 Years
Developmental Events:
- More baby (primary) teeth begin to erupt
Dentist Connection:
- Find a dental home for child and schedule dentist visits regularly every six-months for checkups.
Oral Hygiene Routine:
- Parents brushes child’s teeth, using toothpaste designed for young children.
- Limit bottle or sippy cup usage in between meals, if needed fill it with water.
- Encourage young children to use a regular cup, if not, a sippy cup with a bendable straw is best.
3-7 Years
Developmental Events:
- Children begin losing their baby teeth
- First permanent molars start to erupt
- Thumb sucking may continue after age four, which may cause bite problems and crooked, crowded teeth.
Dentist Connection:
- Dentist visits every six-months for professional cleanings and checkups.
- Dentist will take first dental radiographs.
- Dentist will place preventive dental sealants on the six year molars.
Oral Hygiene Routine:
- Parents should supervise child’s brushing sessions to ensure they are brushing properly.
- Use a soft-bristled tooth brush and a pea-size amount of fluoride toothpaste.
- Use dental products that contain fluoride.
7-13 Years
Developmental Events:
- Child loses all baby teeth
- May get cavities in permanent teeth
Dentist Connection:
- Dentist visits every six-months for professional cleanings and checkups.
- Dentist may suggest visit to the orthodontist or place braces.
- Dental emergencies may occur.
Oral Hygiene Routine:
- Brush on own at least twice a day with fluoride toothpaste.
- Floss on own at least once a day.
- Limit sweetened beverages and sugary foods.
13-20 Years
Developmental Events:
- May need braces
- May get cavities in permanent teeth
Dentist Connection:
- Dentist visits every six-months for professional cleanings and checkups.
Oral Hygiene Routine:
- Brush at least twice a day with fluoride toothpaste.
- Floss at least once a day.
- Limit sweetened beverages like soft drinks and sugary foods, especially between meals.
- Keep travel toothbrush in backpacks or bags.
- Wear mouth guards when playing sports.
- Avoid starting to smoke.
- Avoid oral piercings.
- Eating disorders can erode tooth enamel.
We’ve also created a shortened list to really help you prioritize:
The Essentials
- Establish a dental home for children early, and stick to regular checkups. When children are comfortable with their dental team, it sets a pattern for a lifetime of great dental health.
- Set up an at-home oral hygiene routine. Remember, everyone should brush for two minutes, at least twice a day.
- ALL Child Athletes should wear a mouth guard during sports! Skaters, hockey players, wrestlers, ball players, and more.
The Recommendations
- Orthodontic evaluations should happen at about age seven, in the event there is need for early treatment.
- Dental sealants can provide a shield against tooth decay that will last throughout childhood.
- Healthy-teeth eating habits start now! That means minimal sugar, soft drinks, and snacking — eat, lots of vegetables, and other healthy snack foods.
The Options
- Exciting characters, colors, and flavors on toothbrushes and toothpaste can make brushing and flossing more fun for kids.
- For late teens to 20, who are conscious of their appearance, teeth whitening can be an option and a boost to their confidence.
We hope this gives you some good reminders and a starting point to build your own dental health.
Warren Dental Office Features Your Healthy Smile Timeline: Ages 1 to 20
Use our Warren Dental Office Features Your Healthy Smile Timeline: Ages 1 to 20, as a visual reminder, and these tips will be a launch pad to help you and your family achieve good oral health.
Warren Dental Office Features Your Healthy Smile Timeline: Ages 1 to 20
If you need help finding out more about our Warren Dental Office Features Your Healthy Smile Timeline: Ages 1 to 20, come visit our office. We take a warm and welcoming family approach to dental care. We make every effort to have our patients feel comfortable and enjoy excellent results here. We will help you learn more about our Warren Dental Office Features Your Healthy Smile Timeline: Ages 1 to 20. Dr. Greg Apsey and his staff have dedicated themselves to the highest quality dental care for the people of Macomb County for over 25 years. If you are looking for help and a comfortable dental experience for you and your family, call our Warren Dentist office at 586-573-7700 to schedule a visit with Dr. Greg Apsey.