As a parent, you can help your children have healthy teeth and gums by ensuring they develop good oral health habits early in life.
Stage One – Cleaning
Get into the habit of cleaning your child’s mouth even before your child has teeth! This keeps his or her mouth clean and gives baby teeth a place to grow. Here’s how to clean your baby’s mouth:
- Use a soft, wet cloth or gauze
- Hold the child in your arms
- Wrap the cloth/gauze around your index finger
- Gently wipe the child’s gums from back to front, rubbing them and removing any leftover milk or formula
Stage Two – Brushing and Flossing
When teeth begin to appear you can switch to a wet, small and soft toothbrush and dental floss. Generally, parents should start flossing their children’s teeth when two teeth touch. This usually happens with the back teeth. You’ll brush and floss their teeth for them until they’re able to do it on their own. Then you’ll coach and watch them carefully because it is during this period good oral hygiene habits are built for life.
Stage Three – A Visit to the Dentist
We recommend that you start regular dental exams and cleanings at about 3 years of age, but can start as early as the first tooth eruption in your child’s mouth. However, should you notice a dark shadow, brown spot, or hole in a tooth, please make an appointment to bring them in sooner rather than later.
We always recommend that the first visit to our office be a “fun visit”. This is a complimentary visit that will introduce you and your child to our kid-friendly dental office and staff. Children can explore our playroom equipped with all things kid-friendly like books, video games and a television. They’re also encouraged to check-out our treatment rooms, where they can see and touch things to help them feel at ease. Every child’s visit ends with a loot bag full of goodies and a helium balloon.
AXIS Dental Group offers these Kid-Friendly Pediatric Dentistry Services:
- Dental cleanings (prophylaxis), including flossing, fluorides and sealants
- Orthodontics
- Oral health education and information
- Nutrition counseling
- Mouthguards for sports and bruxism (grinding)
Tomorrow’s healthy smiles begin today! Learn more about Children’s Preventive Dentistry Services and book your appointment today.
