DENTAL HEALTH

Child Dentistry

Your Child's First Visit

Start your child on "regular" dental visits as soon as there are teeth in the mouth, usually after their first birthday. The first dental visit is usually short and involves very little treatment, helping your child become comfortable and familiar with Soft Dental's office and team. If it is more comfortable for you or your child, feel free to sit in the dental chair and hold your child during the examination. In some cases, you may also be asked to wait in the reception area during part of the visit so that a relationship can be built between your child and Drs. Nguyen, Saari and Vu.

Let our caring team gently examine your child's teeth and gums. Radiographs may be taken to reveal decay and check on the progress of your child's permanent teeth under the gums. Your child's teeth may require a professional cleaning and or a topical fluoride to help protect the teeth against decay. Talk through your home care system with us to ensure your child is receiving adequate fluoride at home. Most important of all, let us help you develop the best method to clean and care for your child's teeth.

What should I tell my child about the first dental visit?

If you are wondering what to tell your child, you are not alone. This is a very common question. Please prepare your child the same way you would before their first haircut or trip to the shoe store. Your child's reaction to his first visit to the dentist may surprise you.

Here are some first visit tips:

· Take your child for a “preview” of the office.

· Read books with your child about going to the dentist.

· Review with your child what Dr. Nguyen, Saari or Vu will do during the first visit.

Speak positively, not negatively, about your own dental experiences. Don't use words like "shot", bleeding", "pain". Soft Dental uses much more friendly terms for your child: sleepy juice, mosquito bite, etc.

During your child's first visit the dentist will:

· Examine your child's mouth, teeth and gums.

· Evaluate adverse habits like thumb sucking.

· Check to see if your child needs fluoride.

· Teach you about cleaning your child's teeth and gums.

· Suggest a schedule for regular dental visits.

What about preventive care?

Tooth decay and children no longer have to go hand in hand. Let your child benefit from our strong focus on preventive care. Experience the latest in dental sealant technology to protect your child's teeth. Dental sealants are space-age plastics that are bonded to the chewing surfaces of decay-prone back teeth. Enjoy knowing that your dental team is committed to a firm foundation for your child's lifetime of good oral health.

Cavity Prevention

You have to consider many factors when reducing your child's risk of cavities. Most of the time cavities are due to a diet high in sugary foods and a lack of brushing. Limiting sugar intake and brushing regularly, of course, helps. The longer it takes your child to chew food and the longer the residue stays on the teeth, the greater the chances of your child getting cavities.

When you eat, an acid reaction occurs inside your mouth as the bacteria digests the sugars. This reaction lasts approximately 20 minutes. During this time the acid environment can destroy your 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 a person's diet is high in carbohydrates and sugars, they tend to have thicker saliva, which in turn allows more of the acid-producing bacteria that can cause cavities.

Tips for cavity prevention

· Limit 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.

Teething is a major milestone for your baby. Caring for those precious little teeth is an important aspect of early parenthood. Your baby's first teeth that come into his/her mouth are the two bottom front teeth usually around 6-8 months old. Next to follow will be the 4 upper front teeth and the remainder of your baby's teeth will appear periodically. They will usually appear in pairs along the sides of the jaw until your child is about 2 1/2 years old.

At around 2 1/2 years old your child should have all 20 teeth. Expect your child's first permanent teeth to erupt between the ages of 5 and 6. 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.

Baby teeth are important as they not only hold space for permanent teeth but they are important to developing chewing, biting, speech and appearance. Be sure to take proper care of your child's teeth to maintain a healthy diet and daily hygiene. If you have any questions along the way, feel free to ask our team. We are here to help you.