| Home Care for Children
We recommend you start your child’s dental visit at approximately three years old. The goal of the first appointment is to introduce your child to things in the dental office in a fun, safe environment. They will see there teeth on TV by us using an intra-oral camera and we will even print their picture off so they can take them home and show them off. We want this to be a great experience for your child so they will want to return to the dentist and welcome parents to come into the rooms with their child.
It is important for your child to continue on regular recare appointments even though you may be thinking that they are only baby teeth and will fall out. It is true that they will fall out, but they are still prone to decay. Most children start losing there baby teeth at age 5 and this will continue until age 13. With this being the case, regular dental visits promote healthy teeth and allow decay to be detected early instead of late causing a toothache or infection.
Your child should brush and floss their teeth at least twice a day for approximately two to three minutes. Be sure your child always brushes with a soft bristle tooth brush and uses fluoride toothpaste in small amounts, approximately the size of a pea. If your child cannot expectorate (spit) well, use a non-fluoride toothpaste or brush with water. It is probably best for parents to brush their child’s teeth until the age of 5 and to still check their teeth on a weekly basis. Parents may need to floss for the child until they can do it on their own.
What should I do if an accident occurs involving the mouth?
Accidents can happen quickly whether at home on bikes or blades or during a sporting event. The following information should help you in this situation.
If the tooth is chipped, be sure to call your dentist. If you find the piece of tooth, bring it with you to the dentist for the Doctor to see so they can determine if they can use the chip or not. In most cases, the chip is not usable. The Doctor will rebuild the tooth and depending on the severity of the chip will determine if it will be rebuilt by a tooth colored filling or crown.
If the tooth is knocked out, be sure to call your dentist. If you find the tooth, put it in a glass of milk and bring it with you to the dentist. The tooth can be replaced and will be watched carefully with repeated visits.
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