When should my child first see a dentist, and why?
The ideal time is around 3 years old, unless you suspect a problem. This time frame is a perfect opportunity for
the dentist to carefully examine the development of your child's mouth. Because dental problems often start early, the
sooner the visit the better. To safeguard against problems such as baby bottle tooth decay, teething irritations, gum
disease, and prolonged thumb-sucking, Dr. Chang can provide or recommend special preventive care.
How do I prepare my child and myself for the visit?
Before the visit, ask one of our team members about the procedures of the first appointment so there are no surprises.
Plan a course of action for either reaction your child may exhibit-cooperative or non-cooperative. Talk to your child
about what to expect, and build excitement as well as understanding about the upcoming visit. Bring with you to the
appointment any records of your child's complete medical history. Children seem to do best in the morning when they
are fresh. It is also nice to have the child observe the parent get their teeth cleaning.
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Five ways to protect your child's oral health at home
Parents typically provide oral hygiene care until the child is old enough to take personal responsibility for the daily
dental health routine of brushing and flossing. A proper regimen of preventive home care is importantfrom the day your
child is born.
- Clean your infant's gums with a clean , damp cloth.
- As soon as the first teeth come in, begin brusing them with a small, soft-bristled toothbrush and a pea-sized ddab of
flouride toothpaste. Remember, most children are getting fluoride from the community water supply.
- To avoid baby bottle tooth decay and teeth misalignment due to sucking, try to wean your child off of the breast and bottle
by one year of age, and monitor excessive sucking of pacifiers, fingers and thumbs. Never give your child a bottle of
milk, juice or sweetening liquid as a pacifier at naptime or bedtime.
- Help a young child brush at night- the most important time to brush, due to lower salivary flow and higher susceptibility
to cavities and plaque. Perhaps let the child brush thier teeth first to build self-confidence, then the parent can
follow up to ensure that all the plaque is removed. Usually by age 5 or so, the child can learn to brush his or her
own teeth with proper parental instruction.
- The best way to teach a child how to brush is to lead by good example. Allowing your child to watch you brush your
teeth teaches the importance of good oral hygiene.
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