Visiting a pediatric dentist in Chestermere for the first time can be an overwhelming experience for both child and parent. However, maintaining oral hygiene is important at any age, especially during a child’s transitional stage from baby teeth to adult teeth. At East Chestermere Dental, we are committed to keeping your child’s mouth healthy from the moment their first tooth appears.
Here are some things that every parent should know before taking their child to visit a dentist in Chestermere.
Keeping Baby Teeth Healthy is Essential
Many parents believe that since baby teeth are going to fall out, it is not important to maintain their health. However, healthy teeth are an integral part of your child developing normal speech patterns, confidence, and the ability to eat properly. Baby teeth are lost in a particular order so that the adult teeth can erupt in the best positions possible. If baby teeth are lost early due to poor oral hygiene habits, this can affect how and when adult teeth develop. If baby teeth do not fall out, this can signify a larger problem, such as the tooth root being attached to the bone. Furthermore, untreated tooth decay and cavities in baby teeth can result in severe and, at times, life-threatening infections.
When Should You Begin Taking Your Child to the Dentist?
Our dentist near you recommends that you bring your child to East Chestermere Dental for a checkup as soon as their first tooth emerges above the gum line or as soon as they reach their first birthday- whichever comes first. As soon as your child develops their first tooth, they are at risk for tooth decay and cavities. Taking your child to a pediatric dentist for early checkups will ensure that any early signs of cavities or tooth decay are caught and treated. Furthermore, it will provide insight into the development and growth of adult teeth. Starting to take your child to the dentist early in life will also set the foundation for them to develop a lifetime of good oral hygiene habits.
How Often Should Your Child Visit the Dentist?
After their initial visit, your child should be visiting a pediatric dentist near you for professional dental cleanings and checkups at least once every six months, or more often if our dentist recommends it.
How Can You Look After Your Child’s Oral Health at Home?
The best thing you can do for your child is to teach and demonstrate good oral hygiene habits from a young age. Additionally, you should:
- Ensure that your child is brushing twice a day and flossing at least once daily. It would be best to use fluoride toothpaste because fluoride helps repair and strengthen weakened tooth enamel and make it more resistant to decay and cavities.
- As much as your child may love sugary snacks, the bacteria in their mouth love them even more. Bacteria thrive off of sugar, so it is important to limit the amount of sugar your child eats. Sugar can be hard to avoid, so when your child does eat something sugary, try to get them to brush their teeth afterward.
- Teach your child about the importance of oral health by reading them books about dental visits and teeth. There are many educational children’s books that paint dental visits in a positive light. Try The Tooth Book by Dr. Seuss or The Berenstain Bears Visit the Dentist by Stan and Jan Berenstain
If you are interested in booking an appointment for your child to visit our highly skilled pediatric dentist, please contact us today!