FAQs About Pediatric Dentistry For Parents

It’s natural for parents to have plenty of questions oriented their child’s oral health, which is exactly why there’s an entire field of dentistry dedicated to children.

Pediatric dental specialists will have all the answers to your questions no matter what they are, and the experts at Garland Pediatric Dentistry have helped us narrow down some of the most frequently asked questions (FAQs) about this field that parents are likely to be curious about!

Why is it important for my small child to visit a pediatric dentist?

Pediatric dentists are just as essential as any pediatrician that will see your child on a consistent basis for all sorts of health needs, and seeing a dental specialist will put your child’s oral needs in front of trained specialists. Every pediatric dentist went through 2-3 years of more professional training after already graduating through conventional dental school, and these extra years are so they’re specifically specialists for treating kids.

How old should my child be when they get their first dental checkup?

Right around a child’s first birthday should be their first dental checkup, or another good time in a child’s life for their first visit would be when their teeth begin erupting.

There are all sorts of reasons why this age is the correct time for an initial checkup appointment, and your pediatric dentist is also likely to help parents better understand what they can begin doing on a daily basis to ensure the child’s oral health/safety.

What’s the best way to prepare your child for the dentist?

One good trick for parents to consider is to play games with their kids to “open wide”, so they get used to the idea for their first appointment. Be sure to carefully wipe your child’s first teeth when they’re feeding, and make sure they see you conducting good oral health habits like flossing and brushing.

But what’s most important for parents to do when preparing their kids for the dentist is keeping a good attitude, and always remember that you can do pre-tour visits of an office to get their initial reactions out of the way before any treatment is actually done.

How do parents prevent tooth decay from bottles?

Dental decay is unfortunately an all-too-common disease amongst children, and cavities area also a very common occurrence among your children. The good news is that parents can undoubtedly play a significant role in decreasing the overall chances of their child experiencing tooth decay from bottles, nursing or other causes.

Encouraging your child to drink from a cup around their first birthday is a good start, and never letting your child sleep with any drinks besides water is a good rule to follow. Nighttime breastfeeding should also be avoided when the child’s first teeth are just beginning to erupt. Juice should also be given to children in cups, and not bottles.

And simply weaning your child off bottles around the first birthday is another good idea for parents to keep in mind, because the longer the bottle drinking goes the more likely they will experience issues.

How old should my child be to start using toothpaste?

Children should start using fluoridated toothpaste when they’re about two years old, and prior to then they should be using a soft-bristled toothbrush and water to properly clean their teeth.

Initial toothpaste uses should be supervised by a parent to make sure they’re using the correct amount and not swallowing any of it.

Contact The Dental Experts at Garland Pediatric Dentistry For More Answers To Your Questions!

There’s a lot that’s on the minds of parents when their children are just beginning dental treatment, so it’s always a good idea to ask your questions directly to your preferred pediatric specialist.

You can speak directly to pediatric dentistry specialists by going through the link at the top of the blog!