Pediatric Dentistry: Your Guide to Dental Care for Your Child

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As your baby grows older, there are so many exciting milestones to treasure with each passing month and year — baby’s first step, baby’s first words, and baby’s first tooth!

To make sure your little one establishes a positive, stress-free relationship with the dentist — and avoids cavities — it’s important to get them to the dentist as early as possible. Pediatric dentistry is gentle, thorough, and a great introduction to oral care for your child. Let’s take a closer look.

Proper Care of Baby Teeth Starts Right Away

It’s never too early to start caring for your child’s teeth. Bacteria can start to form immediately on your baby’s gums, so you should wipe out her mouth daily with a clean, damp washcloth to inhibit bacterial growth. This also gets her used to the sensation of early dental care!

Once your baby’s first teeth start coming in, follow these steps:

∙ Brushing. Using a soft infant toothbrush — and a dab of fluoride toothpaste no bigger than a grain of rice — carefully brush each baby tooth.

∙ Flossing. Though there won’t be anything to floss in the beginning, you can begin to gently floss between baby’s teeth once more teeth grow in.

When Do Children’s Teeth Start Falling Out?

You already know that each child is totally unique — and that includes their tooth eruption timelines. That said, most children’s baby teeth start to come in when they’re around six months old. 

Even before the first tooth comes in, you’ll probably find that your baby shows signs of teething. When babies teeth, they can often become a bit fussy and irritable. Make sure to continue gently cleaning their gums with a damp washcloth, as this can be quite soothing for them.

Caring for Permanent Teeth

Children start to grow their permanent teeth when they’re around six or seven, starting with the molars. These teeth should last your child a lifetime, so it’s important to teach oral health habits right from the start.

Teach your child how to brush his teeth with fluoride toothpaste twice every day. In addition, ensure that he is flossing once daily to remove particles of food from between the teeth and preserve gum health. Until he establishes good habits, supervise your child to ensure he’s doing a thorough job.

When is it Time to Choose a Pediatric Dentist?

Though everyday care should give your child’s teeth a great head-start with dental health, even little kids are vulnerable to cavities. This means that you should schedule your first pediatric dentistry appointment when your baby’s first teeth start coming in. As discussed, this is around six months old for most babies.

The earlier the better when it comes to dental care, so it’s important that you have taken your baby to see the dentist by the time they turn one year old.

Pediatric Dentistry at North Coast Dental Excellence in Oceanside, CA

At North Coast Dental Excellence, we’re honored to provide compassionate, stress-free care for your little one’s teeth. We’re happy to serve families in the Oceanside, CA area — and offer a special Welcome Children’s Exam & Cleaning for our youngest patients. For only $49, the offer includes an exam, cleaning, and fluoride treatment. Please reach out today to schedule your child’s appointment.