Dental Health FAQ
GET ANSWERS TO ALL YOUR DENTAL QUESTIONS
You might have some questions for us before you bring your children into our office. Dr. Adriana Salles and Dr. Mitch Vodrey want to help educate you on our pediatric dental services. If you have any further questions, feel free to give us a call today.
A Pediatric Dentist is a specialist dedicated to children’s oral health and the monitoring of children’s facial growth and development. Top smiles Pediatric Dentistry and Orthodontic’s office is designed for treating children from infancy through adolescence, as well as medically and physically challenged children.
- Start by setting an example
- Make oral health a family effort
- Show children that daily brushing and flossing, limited snack, and a regular dental checkup schedule are all part of a good dental hygiene program
- Praise your children’s efforts and their newly acquired independence when they are able to brush and floss on their own
When Does My Child Start to Develop/Lose Their Baby/Permanent Teeth?
7 Ways to Protect Your Children’s Teeth
- See the dentist early. Ideally, your goal should be to take your child to see a dentist by her first birthday.
- Start brushing with the first tooth. Although many parents may not feel a need to brush a baby’s first teeth, keeping even the earliest teeth clean and healthy is critical to good oral health later on.
- Reconsider the bedtime bottle. Letting a child take a bottle of juice, formula or milk to bed is an invitation for decay development. If your child must have a bottle, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) advises filling it only with water.
- Use sippy cups wisely. Sugary beverages + prolonged use of sippy cups = tooth decay. The AAP also recommends giving children no more than four ounces of 100% fruit juice per day and restricting sugary beverages to mealtimes only. Many pediatricians and pediatric dentists advise giving juice only as a treat.
- Say “bye-bye” to the binky. Pacifiers may be appropriate for infants and until a child turns two, but after that, the pacifier should be avoided to avoid misalignment of the teeth and jaw, which can promote tooth decay and be costly to correct.
- Keep an eye on medicines. Many pediatric medicines contain sugar and can promote the growth of bacteria, and prolonged use of antibiotics may cause a fungal infection called thrush. Children using medications to treat chronic conditions are at greater risk for tooth decay, so be sure to discuss these risks with your pediatrician or pediatric dentist.
- Stay firm. Although children may complain about brushing and flossing, you’re not doing them any favors by allowing them to avoid good oral care. Get them involved by letting them choose, with your guidance, their own toothpaste or toothbrush, and reward efforts with stickers or other small tokens to keep them motivated.
We care about your child’s dental health for 12 months of the year. To maintain proper oral hygiene, we want to keep you informed and provide useful information. We hope you find these articles informative and helpful, and we look forward to seeing you at your child’s next appointment. We care about your child’s dental health for 12 months.
Good Health Begins at Birth
Your child’s first visit is free! We believe in making your child’s dental health a priority from birth. We recommend you begin brushing their teeth as soon as their first tooth erupts. To learn more about what you can do to start your child on the road to good dental health, download our guide here.
Tips for Toothbrushing
Brushing your child’s teeth can be difficult the first time. Download our toothbrushing tips guide to learn more about the proper techniques, positioning, as well as the correct toothpaste to use.