What Should Parents Know About Oral Health for Kids?

As a parent, it’s only natural to want your kids to grow up as healthy as possible. When it comes to caring for your child’s teeth, you may wonder when and how to start brushing, flossing and other common concerns. We address these questions to make the early years a little less stressful.

When Should I Schedule My Child’s First Dental Checkup?

Rather than rely on a specific date, make a dental appointment between your child’s first tooth arriving and their first birthday.

Why Should I Bring My Child to a Family Dentist?

A family dentist cares for patients through different stages of life, making it easier for parents and children to receive dental care in one familiar setting. For children, this can help:

• Introduce regular dental visits at an early age.
• Build comfort and familiarity with the dental office over time.
• Monitor how their teeth and oral health develop as they grow.
• Reinforce age-appropriate brushing and flossing habits.
• Make it easier for the whole family to stay consistent with routine dental care.

Choosing an office like Smile Dental Center that sees both children and adults can also give families continuity as their children grow and their dental needs change.

How Often Should Children See a Dentist?

A dental exam every six months helps remove tartar and treat cavities before they progress into something more serious.

How Do I Care for Baby Teeth?

Although baby teeth eventually fall out, they are crucial to a child’s development, influencing speech, nutrition, comfort and confidence. Their health can also affect the developing permanent teeth.

At this stage, proper dental care and diet directly impact how a child learns, sleeps and chews food. As a parent, you can establish lifelong habits and greatly reduce infection risks by:

• Wiping your infant’s gums with a clean, wet cloth after they nurse.
• Brushing their emerging teeth with an appropriately sized brush and rice-sized portion of fluoride toothpaste.
• Creating a routine including twice-daily brushing and regular dental appointments.

How Can I Prepare My Child for the Dentist?

Talk to your child ahead of time to avoid surprising them with an unfamiliar, confusing experience. Explain where you are going, why regular dental checkups are important and what they can expect.

Without this introduction, the dentist can become an intimidating place they intentionally avoid. This may contribute to fear and anxiety as a child and delayed care during adulthood.

What Are the Risks of Pacifiers and Thumb Sucking?

While not an early concern, a child who holds onto these habits after age three will see their risk of an overbite or another alignment issue rise as they get older.

At this point, an oral appliance to gradually discourage these behaviors and preserve their teeth may be recommended.

How Can I Help My Kids Avoid Cavities?

Reducing the risk of cavities starts with their dental routine and diet:

• Emphasize the importance of brushing twice per day; once in the morning and before bed.
• Get them used to flossing; once per day, observed by a parent.
• Make sure they brush with a toothpaste that contains fluoride.
• Offer snacks and meals that consist of fruits, vegetables, proteins and high-fiber foods and limit sugary, sticky options.

What’s the Best Way to Clean My Child’s Teeth?

Let your child’s development guide how involved you are in their dental care:

• Infancy to Age 3: Wipe your child’s gums after nursing and before bed with a gentle cloth and water. Once teeth begin to emerge, use a child-sized soft-bristled toothbrush with toothpaste no larger than a grain of rice. Help your child brush twice per day, two minutes per session, to establish a routine they’ll follow into adulthood.
• Ages 3 to 10: Add a little more toothpaste, roughly the size of a pea. Show them how to floss once most of their teeth have developed.
• Age 10 and Up: At this stage, children have the dexterity and familiarity to handle this routine on their own. When they’re ready, switch them to an adult-sized soft-bristled toothbrush.

What Can I Do If My Child Has a Toothache?

If they complain of an achy, painful tooth:

1. Rinse the area with warm saltwater.
2. Apply a cold compress if the area is swollen.
3. Give them children’s acetaminophen. Avoid placing the medication on the tooth and gums.
4. Make an appointment as soon as possible, as a tooth may be infected, chipped or cracked.

Is It Safe to Pull My Child’s Tooth?

While many adults have memories of this, we recommend waiting for a loose tooth to fall out on its own. Doing so minimizes bleeding and pain and is less traumatic for your child.

What If My Child Loses a Permanent Tooth?

Plan to preserve and secure the tooth by:

1. Finding the tooth.
2. Reinserting it into the socket, holding the crown to keep it in place.
3. Keeping the tooth in a glass of milk if it won’t stay put.
4. Making an emergency appointment with your dentist.

How Can I Protect My Child’s Teeth as They Play Sports?

A mouthguard, made of a flexible, plastic material, is the most reliable way to minimize sports-related damage to the teeth and gums. Custom mouthguards provide a closer fit and greater protection than boil-and-bite products, including against facial injuries.

Is your child experiencing tooth pain, possibly accompanied by a loose or cracked tooth or swollen gums? Don’t wait – we see emergencies same day!