As a parent, you have a lot to juggle. It can be hard to know what to do, when to do it, and how to do it in a way that puts your child on the path to ideal health.
At Kids Dental Center, our experienced pediatric dentist Dr. Bosede Adeniji and friendly team make children’s oral health easy with actionable tips and customized guidance for our patients’ parents.
In our September blog, we discuss the right time to start your child’s oral health care routines, and what you need to do.
The American Dental Association recommends scheduling your child's first visit to the dentist when their first tooth breaks through the gums or by their first birthday — whichever comes first.
The first visit is a chance to get to know our pediatric dentistry staff at Kids Dental Center, and it's an opportunity to learn more about safeguarding your child’s oral health. We're happy to answer questions and discuss how to get your baby off to a great start.
Oral health practices should begin whenever your baby gets their first tooth — or even before. When your baby has a toothless grin, you can wipe their gums gently using a soft cloth. This helps remove bacteria. It actually does double duty by helping your baby get used to the sensation of brushing.
Once that first tooth erupts, it’s time to start brushing. Use a child-sized toothbrush with soft bristles. We recommend squeezing a rice-sized smear of children's toothpaste onto the brush and applying it to all tooth surfaces using gentle circular motions. As your child grows, usually around age 3, use a pea-sized portion of toothpaste.
At first, you'll be doing all the work, but your child learns by watching you. Gradually, they can fully take over brushing themselves as their manual dexterity improves (usually around age 6-8, depending on the individual).
The goal is to brush twice a day, two minutes per session. If you struggle to get your child to brush long enough or thoroughly enough, don’t hesitate to ask us for tips. We can recommend phone apps, timers, and other measures to boost your child’s brushing prowess while making it fun.
As part of your child's oral care, we may recommend fluoride treatments or dental sealants. Fluoride strengthens tooth enamel and can reverse early stages of tooth decay. If your local water isn’t fluoridated, this simple treatment can provide the extra protection your child’s teeth need.
Dental sealants are another valuable preventive measure in which Dr. Adeniji applies a thin protective coating to your child's molars (the back teeth where bacteria often settle into deep grooves). Sealants are most effective immediately after molars erupt.
At Kids Dental Center, we treat your child with the same care we’d give our own. If you're ready to start your child's oral care routine, call us at 480-782-5437 or book an appointment online today.
