Children's Dentistry
A child’s first visit to the dentist should be enjoyable. Children are not born with a natural fear of the dentist, but they can fear the unknown. Dr. Tod Beaulne and Dr. Mike Brown are very experienced at dealing with young children. They do their best to make the appointments fun, enjoyable and stress-free. They use pleasant, non-frightening, simple words to describe each treatment.
We want you and your child to feel at ease from the moment your family arrives at our office. The more you and your little one know about the first visit, the better you will feel.
The Canadian Academy of Paediatric Dentistry recommends
Children should visit the dentist by their third birthday. It is essential that your child’s newly erupted teeth (which appear between six and 12 months of age) receive proper dental care and benefit from proper oral hygiene habits right from the beginning.
When New Teeth Arrive
Your youngster’s primary or baby teeth will begin to emerge between the ages of six and 12 months, and will continue to appear until about age three. During this time, your child’s gums may feel tender and sore. To help alleviate this discomfort, we recommend that you soothe the gums by rubbing a clean finger or a cool, wet cloth across them. Orajel is a medication that can also be used to help numb the sore area.
You may also choose to make use of a teething ring. When your son or daughter has finished teething, you can expect a total of 20 primary teeth.
Your child’s primary teeth are shed at various times throughout childhood. Permanent teeth begin erupting at age six, and continue until age 21. Adults have 28 permanent teeth — 32, including wisdom teeth.
Adopting Healthy Oral Hygiene Habits
As your little one’s teeth erupt, be sure to examine them every two weeks, and check for lines and discolouration that may be caused by decay. Remember that sugary foods and liquids can attack a new tooth, so take care that your child brushes after feeding or eating. We recommend brushing at least two times a day for optimal oral hygiene: after breakfast and at bedtime. Ideally, a parent should help with their child’s brushing and flossing until the child is old enough to do so effectively on their own.
Brushing can be fun, and your youngster should brush as soon as the first tooth arrives. When a baby’s tooth erupts, parents should brush it with a soft-bristled toothbrush and a rice grain-sized amount of toothpaste.
For children younger than two, do not use fluoride toothpaste (until they are able to spit out the toothpaste and not just swallow it) unless advised to do so by your dentist or other healthcare professional. We suggest reviewing proper tooth-brushing procedures with your child.
Flossing is also a part of good oral hygiene habits, and your doctor will discuss with you the right time to start. Usually, this is necessary for the teeth that are close together and with children one of the most common areas for decay is between the child’s back molars. If you notice signs of decay, contact our office immediately.
Preventing Tooth Decay with Regular Checkups
Tooth decay is caused by sugars left in your mouth that turn into an acid, which can break down your teeth. Children are at high risk for tooth decay for a simple reason: many children and adolescents do not practice regular, good oral hygiene habits. Proper brushing and flossing routines combined with regular dental visits help keep tooth decay away.
Your child should visit us every six months for regular dental cleanings and checkups. We recommend fluoride treatments twice a year, along with cleanings to keep teeth their strongest.
