The Canadian Dental Association recommends a child visit a dentist within 6 months from the eruption of their first tooth.
Why Should My Child See a Dentist?
There are numerous reasons why it is important to take your child to see a dentist once they have teeth. During your visit, the dentist can look to see if your cleaning routine is working at home and offer guidance on addressing any problem areas. Your child will also learn that the dentist is helping their teeth grow big and strong quelling any fears they may have had. Dental x-rays may be used to see if the teeth are coming in properly and to see any decay between the teeth.
Brushing and Flossing Your Child’s Teeth
Young children are unable to effectively brush their own teeth, and so as the parent it is important you do it for them. Once they begin to get older you will still need to brush with them, until they are able to do it properly on their own. It is important to brush your child’s teeth before bed each night to help get rid of the cavity cause sugars and germs. By cleaning their gums and teeth from an early age, you are helping to establish good oral habits that will stick with them.
Once your child has teeth that are touching one another it is important to begin flossing. Using a long piece of floss, gently slide it between the teeth and wrap it into a “C” shape around the area where the tooth meets the gum. Take care to floss each tooth, including those hard to reach back molars.
Early Childhood Tooth Decay
One of the leading causes of early childhood tooth decay is allowing children to go to bed with a bottle of mother’s milk, formula, cow’s milk, or fruit juice. All these liquids contain sugars and when left on a child’s teeth night after night can lead to decay. Signs of decay include dull white spots, dark teeth, or lines on the teeth. Some baby teeth will remain in your child’s mouth until the age of 12, therefore, it is very important to get fillings (when needed) in baby teeth. If left untreated the tooth can become painful and may need to be removed.
To learn more about caring for your child’s teeth please contact our office or visit http://www.cda-adc.ca/en/oral_health/cfyt/dental_care_children/