Healthy smiles begin in infancy! The Canadian Dental Association recommends that children first see a dentist at the age of one year or when the first tooth emerges. It is important to see a dentist for children early in a child’s life because it allows the dentist to examine the mouth and discuss specific oral hygiene instructions for the child. Parents should begin brushing and flossing their children’s teeth when the first tooth emerges. When old enough, parents should teach their children how to brush and floss properly. Setting a high standard of oral hygiene early on will help children develop healthy oral hygiene habits for life!

Just like adults, children should see a dentist a minimum of twice a year. The mouth is constantly changing and growing in childhood. Along with this growth can come injuries and issues that, when addressed early, can be easily treated by a dentist for children.

Pediatric services focuses on preventive care. Emphasis is placed on home care, regular checkups, and cleanings. There are many preventive measures available to help you’re your children’s teeth healthy and clean, including sealants, fluoride treatments, and mouth guards. Part of preventive pediatric dentistry also focuses on educating the parent about common dental issues that kids may have such as bruxism, thumb sucking, and baby bottle tooth decay.

Children should be supervised when brushing and flossing at home and will continue to need assistance until refined dexterity levels are achieved. A suggested protocol is to have the child brush first and then the parent brush right after. If your dentist for children has recommended a home fluoride treatment, it must be closely monitored by parents or guardians to ensure that the child does not swallow the fluoride. Additionally, children should not use a fluoridated toothpaste until they are able to avoid swallowing the toothpaste while brushing.

The importance of regular dental care and proper, supervised homecare for children cannot be stressed enough! If your child is in need of pediatric dentistry services and you are looking for a dentist for children, call us today to schedule an appointment.