First Dental Visit:
The American Association of Pediatric Dentistry (AAPD) recommends bringing your baby in for their first dental visit by age 1 or at the eruption of their first tooth, whichever comes first.
At this first appointment, our pediatric dentists will gently examine your child’s oral tissues including teeth, gums, frenums, airway and will perform a head and neck pathology check. Once the exam is complete they will design a personalized program of home care that will include brushing and flossing instructions, diet counseling and fluoride recommendations.
Click below to learn more about your child’s first visit to myKIDSdds! Establishing a dental home by age one is not only great for your child but will also help to ensure you’re prepared for the dental milestones to come!
Brushing and Fluoride:
Brushing: Be sure to brush your little one’s tooth or teeth with a soft children’s toothbrush or a soft cloth at bedtime. Practicing infant dental care at home helps to establish great brushing habits early on!
Fluoride: Fluoride is a natural mineral that builds strong teeth and significantly reduces cavities in children. An appropriate amount of fluoride toothpaste should be used starting at age 1 to prevent decay of the teeth present in the mouth. Fluoride in the water also prevents cavities and more importantly helps with supporting strong, well-formed enamel of the permanent teeth as they develop in the bone. It is best to drink fluoridated water from the tap, filtered refrigerator or Brita type filtering system at least until age 12 at which time the permanent teeth development is complete. Reverse Osmosis systems remove all fluoride and we suggest a prescription supplemental fluoride if that is their primary source of water. Appropriate dosages of fluoride, either topical or systemic, do not harm the teeth or cause health issues.
Fluoride Toothpaste: Your pediatric dentist will help you to determine the right amount of fluoride toothpaste for your little one at their first dental visit but generally using a rice sized amount of fluoride toothpaste is an adequate amount for toddlers.
Pacifiers and Sucking Habits:
Limit the use of pacifiers and thumb sucking to naps and bedtime. Pacifier weaning is important, because prolonged use during a child’s waking hours can contribute to compromised speech articulation, negative changes in tooth alignment as well as facial and jaw development.
It’s important to remember that dipping a pacifier in anything sweet is NEVER okay. Doing this can cause tooth decay.
Diet and Snacking:
Bottles at bedtime should only contain water. Sugary liquids or carbohydrates such as milk, formula or fruit juice put teeth under attack from bacterial acid all night! Support your child’s dental milestones with good oral hygiene habits and a healthy diet.
Baby Tooth Trauma:
Infant dental care includes responding to dental trauma. Even though they are baby teeth and will fall out eventually, they are important for speaking, eating, and other daily functions. After trauma, this is what you are looking for immediately:
- loose teeth or a tooth that is completely out
- if the tooth is completely out, do not try to put it back into the tooth socket
- any teeth that have been pushed up into the gums
- chipped, broken teeth or the baby tooth is knocked out
- cuts or lacerations on the inside of mouth (tongue and/or cheeks)
- your child avoiding normal habits such as brushing, eating, and drinking or is unable to bite teeth together
If any of the above items are true, please call our main phone number and 214-696-3082 and select the emergency option. If possible, take a picture in case we need you to text it to us.
Airway:
Toddlers between the ages of one and two years old need roughly 11-14 hours of sleep a night. Airway plays a huge role in the quality of sleep your child might be experiencing. Our pediatric dentists are certified with The Breath Institute and understand the importance of the airway and healthy sleep habits which is why we screen all of our patients using The Breath Institute’s Screening Tool. This will help us better understand your child so we can create the best plan for healthy oral development.
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