Whether you’re a new parent or you’re expecting your first child, you’ve likely heard many suggestions on how to ensure your child’s dental health. What do dentists suggest on how to set your child up for dental success?
Dentist recommend you take your child to his or her first dental appointment by the age of one. During this visit, the child will be introduced to the dentist and the dental office. There may be come short, simple examination of the baby teeth and the jaws.
After that, it is recommended that a child see the dentist every six months.
At age two, the dentist will perform the child’s first dental cleaning.
A professional dental cleaning is an important component of proper dental hygiene. It is especially critical that you take your child in to see the dentist every six months in addition to proper at-home dental hygiene routines.
Even during the time when baby teeth are falling out and getting replaced with permanent teeth (ages 7-12), a 6-month professional dental cleaning is necessary as a dental exam is also included in the cleaning appointment.
Sometimes your child may need to see the dentist before 6 months. These visits may be the result of dental trauma from an accident or a possible, more severe dental issue that the dentist wants to keep a close eye on.
If you’re not sure when you should schedule a teeth cleaning appointment for your child, here are some indications that something is wrong and you should have your child’s teeth cleaned right away.
- You child has something stuck in their teeth. Sometimes children eat food that gets stuck in their teeth. These small particles of food may not come out with brushing, flossing or rinsing with water. Lodged food particles can be uncomfortable and cause irritation and possible infection. These food particles can also decay causing plaque build-up on teeth which can lead to tooth decay.
- Your child complains of tooth pain. While infants and toddlers may be fussy because of the pain and discomfort of erupting baby teeth, children with all their baby teeth in should not experience too much dental pain or discomfort. If your child is complaining of a toothache, you should schedule an appointment to have their teeth examined and cleaned. A toothache can be an indication of possible tooth decay.
- Your child has sore, sensitive or bleeding gums. Young children have gums that are more sensitive to adults as the gum tissue is still maturing. However, if the gums bleed after every flossing or the gums are swollen for no apparent reason, the onset of gum disease may be present. A dental cleaning can help clean the gums as well and remove residual plaque along the gum line of teeth.
Taking your child in to see the dentist every six months to have their teeth cleaned and examined is the best way to prevent future dental issues and set a solid foundation for a healthy mouth.
If you’re looking for a pediatric dentist, contact us a Stonecrest Family Dental to schedule a consultation.