Different Stages Of Pediatric Dental Care

Just as your children require a different level of care as they grow, so too do their teeth! At each stage of development, you must ensure that you and your child are both doing your part to maintain healthy oral hygiene in order to keep their teeth strong and beautiful. By learning a little more about each stage, you can give yourself a head start on helping your child achieve and maintain good oral health throughout his or her life!

Infants and Toddlers

Even before any teeth emerge, you can begin taking care of your baby’s mouth. This includes cleaning the gums with a finger brush or a soft cloth after each feeding. This will not only reduce the bacteria allowed to grow on your baby’s gums, but will also stimulate the gum tissues. Once your child’s first teeth do begin to arrive, use a soft-bristles toothbrush to brush them twice a day. Make sure to bring your baby to the dentist either by the eruption of the first tooth or by his or her first birthday, whichever comes first.

Preschoolers

Once your child reaches 3 year of age, he should have all of his teeth. At this point you can begin to teach your child all about proper dental hygiene. Allow your child to begin brushing his or her own teeth (but make sure to follow up with a more thorough brushing afterwards). Here at Great Outdoors Pediatric Dentistry, we can teach you some great ways to show your child the proper brushing techniques.

Older Children

By the age of seven, your child should be able to brush his or her teeth with supervision and by the age of nine, they can do it on their own! As your child ages, be sure to incorporate flossing and mouthwash into their daily oral hygiene routine.

Throughout childhood, it’s important to make sure you’re bringing your children to the dentist every 6-12 months. Not only is it important to make sure they’re having regular dental cleanings, but it’s also important to catch any problems early one when they’re easier and less painful to treat.

To make an appointment with a skilled pediatric dentist, please contact Great Outdoors Pediatric Dentistry, located in Dover, New Hampshire!