The Importance of Your Child’s Dental Health Care
Here at Gaston Dental Associates, we know how difficult it can be to determine what the right thing to do for your children is. When should I schedule my child’s first dental appointment? Should my toddler be flossing? How do I determine if my child needs to be seen by an orthodontist? These are all very important questions we are here to answer!
When Should I Start Brushing My Child’s Teeth?
Great dental hygiene and health care routine can and should start before your child’s first baby tooth comes in! You see, just because a tooth isn’t visible inside of your child’s mouth, does not mean it isn’t there. Baby teeth begin to grow during the second trimester of pregnancy, meaning, by the time your baby is born, they already have 20 primary teeth.
Here are some of our top tips for caring for young, new teeth:
- Use a clean, damp washcloth to gently rub away harmful bacteria build up on your baby’s gums each night
- Once teeth start to erupt through the surface, use an infant toothbrush with a rice-sized amount of fluoride toothpaste. Once these teeth touch, you can start flossing gently between them
- Around age 2 or 3, your child should learn to spit while you are brushing their teeth, teaching them not to swallow toothpaste once they begin to brush themselves
When is it Time for Your Child to Visit Gaston Dental Associates?
According to the American Dental Association, children should be seen by a dentist by their 1st birthday. This is so our team can uncover any potential problems and prevent them from becoming worse later down the road. Visiting this early and exposing your child to a dentist regularly will help your child become used to the dentist office, various tools, and their dentist so they feel comfortable and confident when they come to visit.
Maintaining Your Child’s Dental Healthcare
Depending on the path your child will be on for jaw and tooth development, our experts here at Gaston Dental Associates recommend regular check-ups every 3 – 6 months to monitor growth and ensure healthy and shining smiles. As a parent, make sure to regularly help your child brush and floss their teeth, and try to limit sugary foods as much as possible (we know this is hard) to help with lessening the chance of developing cavities later on. With these tactics and dental appointments, your child’s dental healthcare will be on a great path! Give us a call today at 704-396-6166 to schedule an appointment!