When raising children, parents focus on every little part of their development to ensure that things are progressing as they should in a healthy way. From the first time the child rolls over, walks and even to their first bite of real food, every step of the growing process is monitored closely. When their first tooth comes in, however, many parents are not exactly sure in the steps toward dental health and security. After spending so long caring for a child with no teeth, the importance of dental health can sometimes be left behind, but a dentist in Tunbridge Wells understands just how important it is to take care of your child’s mouth.
When should the first appointment take place?
As soon as the first tooth emerges in a child’s mouth, it is important that an appointment is booked for their first oral exam. It is unlikely that this will be as thorough or as detailed as an adults exam, as practitioners will be making sure that the tooth has emerged with clean margins and there are no other causes for concern. During this appointment, parents should make sure to ask any questions that they have in the back of their minds as well as the best ways to keep their young child’s teeth healthy, up until it is time for regular dental check-ups.
Regular dental check-ups
As the children begin to grow, specifically from the age of two and above, it is important that they are booked in for regular check-up. At some point between the ages of four and six, practitioners will take the child’s first set of mouth x-rays that will allow them to get a more thorough examination and check for looming cavities. The most stable way to get on top of a child’s dental hygiene and health is through prevention, so remembering to take them to the dental practice every six months will add to the parents peace of mind.
Orthodontic visits
Alongside the usual dental health check-ups, at the age of seven, there might be a recommendation that the child be taken for an appointment with the orthodontist. It is normal for parents to wait until the teenage years before a child is fitted with braces or any other form of orthodontic treatment but being ahead of that and checking for skeletal causes of misalignments can give everyone involved huge benefits.
Brushing tips
Taking care of children’s mouths through their dental hygiene routine can be difficult, especially when varying in ages. Using a fluoride toothpaste, no matter their age can help to prevent tooth decay and for children up to three years, it is important to start as soon as the first milk tooth emerges. With younger children, brushing of the teeth should always been supervised by an adult for as long as possible to ensure that the right amount of toothpaste is being used and the teeth are being thoroughly cleaned for at least two minutes, twice a day. The amount of toothpaste required and how much fluoride is in the paste varies depending on the age of the child, so parents should always seek out advice if they are unsure and want to keep their child safe. If a parent is struggling to ensure that the teeth are being cleaned thoroughly, they could try guiding the hand of their child and using a mirror, educating their child on where exactly they need to clean.
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