Children are susceptible to poor dental and oral hygiene owing to unhealthy eating habits and lack of cleanliness. Pediatric dentistry refers to the branch of dentistry that deals with the oral care and hygiene of infants and children. It involves not only early diagnosis and treatment of dental problems but also advising parents/adults about preventive measures to preserve the child’s oral health. Your child should have his/her first dental visit by 12 months of age.

A Guide to Your Child’s First Dental Checkup

Ideally, an infant should have his/her initial dental checkup between age 3 months and 9 months. So basically that means during the first year of life, the child should have at least two visits. This is crucial to assessing the chances of developing orthodontic anomalies and diseases at a young age.

An early visit to the dentist plays an important role in preventing dental anxiety in a child. It is a common feeling of fear, stress, or anxiety associated with a dental setting. The sight of needles and drills can infuse a sense of scare in children, resulting in the delay of treatment. Besides, it also offers psychological support and comfort to the mother towards preserving the infant’s oral health.

Brush Up On Your Child’s Dental Care Routine

Oral hygiene maintenance should be acquired in early childhood. Parents must ensure instilling good oral hygiene habits in kids right from the beginning and teach them the importance of doing so. Additionally, regular visits to the dental clinic are also important to keep track of oral health and get over dental anxiety.

Get your child into the habit of brushing soon after he/she has their milk teeth (deciduous teeth). For kids, a small brush with soft bristles, possibly without toothpaste, is recommended to avoid bruises or scars inside the mouth.

The main objective of self-brushing at a young age is to teach the child and get him/her accustomed to daily dental hygiene. With age, the child’s motor skills will also improve gradually, and brushing will then become effortless and more thorough.

Preventing Tooth Decay in Infants

The commonest of all dental problems among children at this young age is Early Childhood Caries (ECC). This is a condition that results from irregularities in the diet – having sweetened drinks, frequent night meals, and prolonged breastfeeding. Another problem is what is medically termed as Baby bottle tooth decay – which refers to the habit of finger sucking and feeding off a baby bottle.

Does your child drink sweetened liquids from a bottle or sleep with one at night? It’s time you break the habit. This is because prolonged exposure to sugary drinks leads to the decaying of your baby’s teeth. This commonly affects the upper front teeth but can also spread to other parts. Therefore, make sure your child is not left with a bottle to drink from or to be used as a pacifier after brushing teeth at night. If absolutely necessary, fill in the bottle with water. As your kid turns a year old, start getting them used to drinking from a cup instead of a bottle.

Reduce their daily sugar intake to avoid tooth decay. Snacking on sugary foods and liquids frequently or throughout the day causes sugar from foods to stay inside the mouth, which leads to cavity problems. Give your child natural juices that come without artificial sugar and preservatives only.

Prolonged use of a pacifier can cause dental problems. Besides, kids using a pacifier are likely to develop the habit of thumb sucking, which again, can lead to protruding of the front teeth. Make sure your baby gets rid of this habit after the age of 3.

A pediatric dentist can guide you right on preserving your child’s oral health. Regular checkups, proper hygiene maintenance, and complete cooperation from the parents are keys to educating the child on keeping up with dental health.

For more information regarding your dental health,  please give Dr. Apsey of Smile Brightly Dental a call today!  We are located in Warren, MI and we can be reached at 586-573-7700!