Dentist in Anaheim, CA: Ideal Age for Your Child's First Dental Visit
Kids of all ages should practice good oral and dental hygiene to keep their teeth and gums healthy for a lifetime. According to the Mayo Clinic, dental infections are one of the most common types of infections among young children.
If you have a little one at home, when should you take your child to see a dentist in Anaheim, California, for the first time?
Read on to learn about the optimal age for children to see a dentist and get some awesome tips to ensure your child has a healthy smile.
Infant Oral Health
As a parent, you should begin practicing a few oral health habits for your child, even when they're a small infant. Starting around the age of six months, baby formula should be mixed with fluoride when making bottles. Ask your pediatric dentist for more information about this.
You should also wipe your infant's gums gently using a soft, wet cloth after each feeding. Avoid feeding your child at nighttime whenever possible to help reduce the buildup of lactose. Over time, lactose creates carbohydrates that can increase the chance of cavities or irritated gums.
Starting good oral health habits early will set your child up for a lifetime of healthy teeth. Even as a small baby, it's important to nurture their gums to ensure that their teeth grow properly and keep them in good condition. Healthy gums set the stage for healthy teeth later in life.
Your Child's First Dental Appointment
So, at what age should your child have their first dental checkup for kids? Ideally, children should attend their first dental appointment by the age of one or whenever their first tooth emerges (whichever comes first).
After your child's first visit with our dentist in Anaheim, California, they should return regularly to get checkups and cleanings. Usually, this occurs every three months to once a year, depending on what your dentist decides is best for your child.
Going to the dentist at a young age is the best way to catch any dental issues early. The sooner you can identify the problem, the sooner your pediatric dentist can take steps to treat the issue and ensure that your child has a healthy smile.
What to Expect During the First Visit with Your Dentist in Anaheim, California
A child's first dental visit typically involves a quick dental exam and checkup. The dentist will look for any signs of gum irritation or tooth decay and will likely provide you with some helpful children's dental health tips you can practice at home.
Your dentist may also perform a cleaning of your child's teeth and may possibly get some x-rays, depending on the age of your child and how far their teeth have developed. They'll also apply a special fluoride treatment that is brushed directly onto the teeth to help prevent cavities.
After the first visit, your dentist will likely apply a special dental sealant once more teeth have come in. This special coating is painted onto the teeth and helps to prevent tooth decay.
If you have any concerns or questions for your pediatric dentist, the first visit is a great time to ask them. Your dentist will be more than happy to give you some pointers and advice about children's dental health and some tips to make at-home dental care easier.
Stages of Kids' Dental Care
Once your child is old enough to attend their first dental visit, you should begin encouraging them to start practicing dental care habits at home. For children under the age of three, help them brush their teeth twice a day for two minutes. Make sure they're using a soft toothbrush made for kids, and only give them a tiny bit of fluoride toothpaste.
For kids ages three years and older, help them brush twice daily for two minutes using a little bit more fluoride toothpaste. This should be around the size of a pea, and you should continue to supervise them while they brush. Never leave kids unattended while they brush their teeth until they're around ten years old.
You can begin teaching your child how to spit the toothpaste into the sink when they are around three years old and up. This is also a great time to teach them how to floss their teeth. They should continue to brush and floss twice a day.
Once your child is 10 years and older, they can start to brush and floss their teeth without supervision. However, it's a good idea to remind them to brush twice a day and floss once per day in case they forget. Doing these things at a young age can help to prevent painful cavities or an abscessed tooth.
More Children's Dental Health Tips
There are several things you can do to get your children's dental health off to a good start. First, offer your baby a cup with breast milk, water, or formula when they are around six months old. Kids should use cups and stop using bottles by the time they are one year of age.
Don't give juice to babies under one year old. Once they're old enough to drink juice, serve 100% fruit juice with no added sugar and give it to them at mealtimes only.
It's important to allow children to use bottles or sippy cups with water only during the day to prevent the consumption of excess sugar. Limit the amount of sugary snacks and sugar-sweetened beverages that your child is allowed to consume, and make sure they brush their teeth afterward.
Avoid smoking near your child. Children who are around secondhand smoke may be more vulnerable to cavities. If you currently smoke, talk to your doctor about how to quit.
Healthy Smiles for Life
Now that you know how to set your child up for a healthy smile, you can adopt these habits at home. Remember to take your child to see our dentist in Anaheim, Californiawhen they're old enough.
At Brilliance Dental of Anaheim, exceptional dental care is our number one priority, so contact us today to schedule an appointment for you or your child.
657-233-9174
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