Your child’s smile grows alongside them, experiencing unique changes and processes whose results will impact their oral health long into their adult lives. While much information is available online, consulting with a dentist experienced in child dentistry is crucial to ensure a healthy foundation for your kid’s oral health.
The team at Dentistry at Kennestone is committed to protecting your children’s smiles for the future, and here’s how we will ensure that.
Why Is Children’s Preventative Care Important?
Tooth decay and children no longer have to go hand in hand.
Cavities are indeed common in children. For starters, as their bodies are still developing, their teeth’s outer surface—known as the enamel—is weaker to decay than an adult’s. Combined with a passion for sweets, it is understandable that there’s a link between cavities and children.
That doesn’t mean, though, that cavities aren’t preventable. With regular dental visits and a proper oral hygiene routine reinforced at home, children can enjoy a healthy smile whose benefits will extend throughout their lifetime!
How We Take Care of Your Children’s Smiles
At our office, we are most concerned with all aspects of preventive care. Some ways in which we ensure the health of your kid’s smile include:
- Regular Dental Visits: The key to a healthy smile lies in regular dental check-ups. We can identify any potential issue, like cavities or gum disease, early on and treat it before it spreads. Kids, too, can develop periodontitis, so don’t overlook the importance of going to the dentist!
- Dental Sealants: We use the latest dental sealant technology to protect your child’s teeth. Dental sealants are tooth-colored acrylic bonded to the chewing surfaces of decay-prone back teeth. This helps prevent plaque buildup and cavities in these sensitive areas.
- Tooth-Colored Fillings: Even with the best oral hygiene habits, cavities may eventually appear. When this happens, the team at Dentistry at Kennestone will successfully remove them and restore your kid’s teeth with tooth-colored fillings. Besides looking and feeling natural, these fillings are long-lasting, enforcing their smile for years!
Your Child’s First Visit to the Dentist
The first “regular” dental visit should be just after your child’s first birthday.
The first dental visit is usually short and involves very little treatment. We may ask you to sit in the dental chair and hold your child during the examination. You may also be asked to wait in the reception area during part of the visit so that we can start building a relationship of trust between them and their dentist.
We will gently examine your child’s teeth and gums during the check-up. X-rays may be taken (to reveal decay and check on the progress of your child’s permanent teeth under the gums). We will clean your child’s teeth and apply topical fluoride to help protect the teeth against decay. Additionally, we will make sure they are receiving adequate fluoride at home.
We will also evaluate the effects of adverse habits like thumb sucking and suggest a schedule for regular dental visits. Most importantly, we will review how to clean and care for your child’s teeth.
What Should I Tell My Child About the First Dental Visit?
We have been asked this question many times. We suggest you explain to them how the process will go, that their dentist will:
- Examine their mouth, teeth, and gums.
- Check to see if they need fluoride.
- Teach you about cleaning your teeth and gums.
With proper communication, going to the dentist can be just like getting their first haircut or making a trip to the shoe store. Worrying about this milestone is common, but your child’s reaction to his first visit to the dentist may surprise you!
“First Visit” Tips:
If you’re still worried about your child’s first dental visits, some extra ways to prepare them are:
- Take your child for a “preview” of the office.
- Read books about going to the dentist with them.
- Review with them what the dentist will be doing during the first visit.
- Speak positively about your own dental experiences.
Our Tips for a Successful Cavity Prevention
Most of the time, children’s cavities result from a diet high in sugary foods and a lack of brushing. The longer food residue stays on their teeth, the greater the chances of getting cavities are. Thus, the best way to prevent cavities is to limit sugar intake and encourage them to brush regularly.
Every time someone eats, an acid reaction occurs inside their mouth as the bacteria digest the sugars. This reaction lasts approximately 20 minutes. During this time, the acidic environment can destroy the tooth structure, eventually leading to cavities.
Consistency of a person’s saliva also makes a difference; thinner saliva breaks up and washes away food more quickly. When people eat diets high in carbohydrates and sugars, they tend to have thicker saliva, allowing more of the acid-producing bacteria that can cause cavities.
Other tips for cavity prevention include:
- Limit the frequency of meals and snacks.
- Encourage brushing, flossing, and rinsing.
- Watch what your child drinks.
- Avoid giving your child sticky foods.
- Make treats part of meals.
- Choose nutritious snacks.
Understanding the Importance of Their Baby Teeth
Baby teeth, or primary teeth, are fundamental for your child’s oral health. Not only do they enable chewing, biting, and speech, but they also hold space for permanent teeth, ensuring your child develops a well-aligned and healthy bite.
Cavities and gum disease can affect the natural eruption time of your child’s teeth. For this reason, it is important to maintain a healthy diet and maintain daily hygiene. Here’s a breakdown of what you can expect:
- The first baby teeth that come into the mouth are the two bottom front teeth, which appear when your baby is about 6-8 months old.
- The four upper front teeth will follow, and the remainder of your baby’s teeth will appear periodically. They will usually appear in pairs along the sides of the jaw until the child is about 2 1/2 years old.
- At around 2 1/2 years old, your child should have all 20 teeth.
- Between the ages of 5 and 6, the first permanent teeth will begin to erupt.
Some of the permanent teeth replace baby teeth, and some don’t. Don’t worry if some teeth are a few months early or late, as all children are different.
Visit Our Child Dentistry and Protect Their Smiles!
Wanting the best for your children is natural as a parent, and protecting their oral health plays a big role in that. Failure to maintain good oral hygiene can lead to changes in their secondary teeth eruption times, causing overcrowding. Moreover, extensive tooth-sucking that wasn’t early identified by a dentist can lead to bite misalignment.
Dentistry at Kennestone can help you prevent all of that. Schedule an appointment, and ensure a healthy smile for your baby for years to come!
