Our precious population needs our help. They need mom and dad or they caregivers to set up a great oral health plan. Our Edgewood, Ky., family dental office is a one-stop shop for people of all dental complications and ages. We help 103 year olds replace missing teeth and work with 3 years old maintain their baby teeth.

Today we want to provide you with the ultimate guide to caring for your children’s teeth and mouth. This process starts within the first few months of life. It’s our belief that children who are comfortable with the dentist early in their lives are less likely to have restorative treatments later in life.

As a nation, our country can do better when it comes to our children’s dental health. Tooth decay is the number one chronic disease in children across the world. More than half of all 5 year olds have had tooth decay. These are just a few facts about children’s dental care.

Here are a few things you need to know about children’s health.

The first stages of tooth care
Children will beginning developing teeth within the first few months. The first tooth often appears around 6 months and the back molars will appear when the child is 2 years old. The teething begins toward the front of the move.

When your child is teething, it’s wise to give them teething toys, a damp cloth to chew up, or even an infant toothbrush. These tools can ease the pain caused by teething and get your child comfortable with having a toothbrush in their mouth. Children who are teething often experience problems like diarrhea, fevers, or even rashes. Don’t be surprised if your little one is fussing during this phase.

We recommend that you bring your child to the dentist when the first two appears or before the first birthday. This is imperative because it gives us the opportunity to oversee the development of the teeth and jawbone. It’s important to know that any tooth can be subject to tooth decay. Once the teeth appear, we’ll begin doing light cleanings. We’ll make the entire experience fun for your kids so they are not intimidated in the dental chair.

Brushing teeth with your children
As we mentioned above, you can give your babies an infant toothbrush to rake against their gums. This is a great teething tool, but it also cleans the gums and gets your child used to having a toothbrush in their mouth. As a parent, you’ll be the one brushing the teeth during the few years, but it’s important to have your child participate as soon as they can.

There are great digital apps that make brushing fun, and you can purchase toothbrushes with timers to make sure your child is brushing their teeth for a full two minutes.

Prevent tooth decay with fluoride, dental sealants
Part of giving your child great and beautiful teeth is providing cleanings and exams every six months. During these visits, we can provide your child with fluoride treatments. Fluoride is a natural substance that is known to prevent tooth decay and even repair small cavities.

Dental sealants are different. The sealants are placed on the biting surface of the teeth and literally block out tooth decay. The sealants can last a few years before wearing off. For long-term results, you need to practice great at-home oral hygiene and undergo nutritional counseling.

Schedule your visit today
We can handle your child’s dental care with great preventive care. Call our office today to at 859-474-7830 to schedule a visit.