Your Child’s First Dental Visit
Your Child’s First Dental Visit
When you have little kids, the whirlwind of activity can be overwhelming at times. You’re thinking of everything you’re supposed to do, and the timing of your child’s first dental visit can get overlooked. After all, your son or daughter only has a couple of teeth, so where’s the need for the dentist?
At our family dentistry in Mount Pleasant, we take pride in that we have three generations of teeth under our care for many families. Heck, if we were closer to Detroit we could have had the whole Howe clan!
So that you know when to bring a child in for his or her first visit, here’s some information.
What is pediatric dentistry?
Some people try and segment the care of children’s teeth into pediatric dentistry. But we don’t think that’s necessary. Taking care of the teeth of children before they reach adolescence does take some additional skills, however. Taking care of children’s teeth demands some additional skills beyond pure dentistry. There’s an art to dentistry for our smaller patients, acknowledging a child’s misgivings about going to the dentist, while at the same time performing the evaluations needed. A large part of our pediatric care is also educational, showing children the value of proper dental care along with the nuts and bolts of how to do it. Of course, if early intervention is needed to correct dental problems, we take care of that, too.
The first visit
The first dental visit should coincide with the eruption of the child’s first tooth, usually before the first birthday. As adults, the American Dental Association recommends that children see their dentist every six months to achieve optimal dental health. This may seem like overkill considering your child has but one or two teeth, but it’s important at this time to develop the patterns of care. Plus, if there is a problem, we can see it early and decide on the proper course of care.
What should I use in cleaning my child’s baby teeth?
When you’re cleaning your baby’s teeth, you won’t use a regular toothbrush. You need a specifically designed soft-bristled infant toothbrush. With this soft toothbrush, you will brush the baby’s teeth and gums once a day. This will prevent the buildup of bacteria and plaque that can lead to cavities.
My child still sucks his thumb and uses a pacifier. Would this affect his teeth?
Thumb sucking and pacifier sucking are normal self-comforting behaviors in very small children. But if allowed to continue for too long, they can lead to dental problems. Normally, children grow out of these habits on their own, but if they persist until your child is three years old, we may recommend the use of a mouth appliance to counter this problem. Continued thumb sucking will lead to orthodontic issues, so it’s better to stop the practice rather than allow it to continue.
Dr. Egger loves his little patients! So, when it’s time, bring them in and let’s get them started down the road to a lifelong healthy smile. Call us at 989-773-3560 is you have any questions about dental care for your child, or to make that first appointment.