Gateway Family Dental Blog
Cavity Prevention in Children
Many new parents struggle in deciding how to properly manage their children’s oral health. These loving parents know they want to prevent cavities and instill proper oral habits early in their children’s life, but they may not know the best way to do so. Taking your child to the dentist early can help prevent and eliminate tooth decay which can sprout up very early in a child’s life if they are not practicing effective oral hygiene.
When Should Dental Care Start?
Surprisingly, parents should begin their oral cleaning efforts before teeth are even visible to the naked eye. From the time of birth, children are susceptible to developing cavities, so oral health should always remain a priority. Run a wet washcloth over the baby’s gums on a daily basis to clear out harmful bacteria build up. Parents are advised to continue brushing their baby’s teeth with an infant toothbrush up until age 2.
By the age of two, most kids can spit during the brushing process. At this stage, squeeze roughly a pea-sized amount of toothpaste onto the bristles and supervise the child brushing their own teeth. When the child is finished the parent should then brush as well to catch any spots the child has missed. Continue this supervised process until around age 5.
Murfreesboro Children's Dental Office: Gateway Family Dentistry
The industry’s general rule of thumb is to schedule your child’s first dentist visit after the eruption of the first tooth. This timetable typically means you should schedule an appointment with our children’s dentistry office before their first birthday. These first visits to the dentist are vital towards the child’s long-term understanding of proper oral health care. Dentists are able to offer advice on additional oral issues such as teething, fluoride and thumb sucking.
Contact Gateway Family Dentistry today to schedule your child’s dental appointment.
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