Children

Your child should visit the dentist as soon as the first tooth appears, or by the age of 1. This is to make sure that the teeth are coming in properly, to provide the parents with advice on adopting early dental habits and to allow your child to become familiar with our office.

Once the first teeth have started coming in, use a soft baby toothbrush which is safe for teeth and gums. When your child turns 2, you can begin introducing a pea-size dab of non-fluoridated baby toothpaste. Once your child is able to spit out their toothpaste, you can introduce a fluoride-based toothpaste.

Primary or ‘baby’ teeth are important for several reasons. They help hold space in the child’s jaw and form a path for the permanent teeth that will eventually grow in. If the baby teeth are decayed and fall out too early, the permanent teeth can drift, making it difficult for other teeth to find room.

You can start flossing your child’s teeth around age 2, once their teeth have started growing closer in proximity to each other. By age 5, they should be able to start flossing on their own, however some children will need help with flossing until the age of 10. The sooner you start, the sooner it can become a healthy habit!

Sucking thumbs or using pacifiers for too long can affect the growth of the mouth and alignment of the teeth. Children typically stop this behavior once their front teeth are ready to erupt. Consult your dentist if you are concerned about your child’s thumb sucking.

X-rays are quick, painless and safe. They are a necessary tool in dental care as they can show cavities, infections and other problems that wouldn’t be visible otherwise. No radiation remains in the body once the x-ray has been taken.