Dental Care for Your Baby in Redmond, WA
Start your child’s smile off right - with gentle, expert guidance from Village Dentistry.
Infant Dental Care in Redmond, WA
Are you prepared for the arrival of your baby’s first tooth?
Follow these guidelines and your children will be on the way to a lifetime of healthy smiles:
Even before your baby’s first tooth appears, the gums can benefit from your careful attention. After breast- or bottle-feeding, wrap one finger with a clean, damp washcloth or piece of gauze and gently rub it across your baby’s gum tissue.
This practice both clears your little one’s mouth of any fragments of food and begins the process of building good daily oral care habits.
When that first tooth makes an entrance, it’s time to upgrade to a baby toothbrush. There are usually two options: a long-handled toothbrush that you and your baby can hold at the same time, and a finger-puppet-like brush that fits over the tip of your pointer finger. In each case, the bristles are soft and few in number.
At this stage, toothpaste isn’t necessary; just dip the brush in water before brushing. If your little one doesn’t react well to the introduction of a toothbrush, don’t give up. Switch back to a damp washcloth for a few months and try the toothbrush again. During the teething process, your child will want to chew on just about anything, and a baby toothbrush with a teether can become a favorite toy during this period.
When a few more teeth appear, you can start using toothpaste with your child’s brush. However, for the first two years, be sure to choose toothpaste that does not contain fluoride unless advised to do so by your dentist because too much fluoride can be dangerous for youngsters.
At this stage, use only a tiny amount of toothpaste. From the beginning, have your little one practice spitting the toothpaste out after brushing to prepare for fluoride toothpaste, which should not be swallowed at any age.
Don’t give your baby any sort of sweetened liquids, such as flavored drinks or soda. Even the sugars present in fruit juice, formula, and milk (this goes for breast milk as well) can cause decay, so regular teeth and gum cleaning is vital.
Also, make sure your baby never goes to bed with a bottle; sugary liquids in prolonged contact with teeth are a guarantee for early childhood decay, also known as baby-bottle caries.
Providing you are practicing good oral health practices for your child at home, it is recommended that you bring your child in for a happy visit between three and four years old. At this age, your child will be more receptive to their first dental visit.
Often, it is good to have them watch a sibling or parent visit for a short time to get acquainted with the office and staff. We’ll look for any signs of early problems with your baby’s oral health and check in with you about the best way to care for your little one’s teeth.
Remember that preparing for each dental visit with a positive attitude goes a long way toward making your child comfortable with regular checkups.
As part of the natural learning process, little ones are expert mimics, and you can take advantage of this talent. Brush and floss daily while your child is watching, and they will learn at an early age the importance of your good habits.
As soon as your child shows interest, offer a toothbrush of their own and encourage your toddler to “brush” with you. (You’ll find toothbrushes with chunky, short handles that are easy to grip.)
Most children don’t have the dexterity necessary to thoroughly clean their own teeth until they’re about six or seven, so you’ll have to do that part of the job. Try different tactics to make brushing fun: flavored toothpaste, a toothbrush with a favorite character on it, or singing songs about brushing.
The primary goal is to instill healthy oral habits at an early age to set your child up for a lifetime of healthy, cavity-free teeth.
- When should I schedule my child’s first visit to the dentist? The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry recommends that children be seen by six months after their first tooth erupts, or at one year of age, whichever comes first. Most of the time, your pediatrician will look in the child’s mouth as part of their general exam.
We often have parents bring their children with them to their cleaning appointments. This will familiarize the child with the dental office, they can read a children’s book about dentistry, get a prize (bribe), and many times we’ll take a quick look in the child’s mouth to screen for any obvious problems. We call this a “Happy Visit!” We don’t usually do any X-rays at an appointment like this.
- How can I prepare my child for his first dental appointment? The best preparation for your child’s first visit to our office is to maintain a positive attitude. Children pick up on adults’ apprehensions, and if you make negative comments about trips to the dentist, you can be sure that your child will fear an unpleasant experience and act accordingly.
Show your child the pictures of the office and staff on the website. Let your child know that it’s important to keep his teeth and gums healthy and that the doctor will help him do that. Remember that your dentist is specially trained to handle fears and anxiety, and our staff excels at putting children at ease during treatment.
- Baby teeth aren’t permanent. Why do they need special care? Although they don’t last as long as permanent teeth, your child’s first teeth play an important role in his development. While they’re in place, these primary teeth help your little one speak, smile, and chew properly. They also hold space in the jaw for permanent teeth.
If a child loses a tooth too early (due to damage or decay), nearby teeth may encroach on that space, which can result in crooked or misplaced permanent teeth. Also, your child’s general health is affected by the oral health of the teeth and gums.
- What’s the best way to clean my baby’s teeth? Even before your baby’s first tooth appears, we recommend you clean his gums after feedings with a damp, soft washcloth. As soon as his first tooth appears, you can start using a toothbrush. Choose a toothbrush with soft bristles and a small head. You most likely can find a toothbrush designed for infants at your local drugstore.
- How can I help my child avoid cavities? Be sure that your child brushes his teeth at least twice a day with fluoride toothpaste. Flossing daily is also important because flossing can reach spots between the teeth that brushing can’t.
Check with your pediatric dentist about a fluoride supplement, which helps tooth enamel become harder and more resistant to decay. Avoid sugary foods and drinks, limit snacking, and maintain a healthy diet. And finally, make regular appointments so that we can check the health of your child’s teeth and provide professional cleanings.
- What should I do if my child sucks his thumb? The large majority of children suck their thumbs or fingers as infants, and most grow out of it by the age of four without causing any permanent damage to their teeth. If your child continues sucking after permanent teeth erupt, or if he sucks aggressively, let us know, and we can check to see if any problems may arise from the habit.
- How is a pediatric dentist different from other dentists? All dental specialists (pediatric dentists, orthodontists, oral surgeons, and others) begin by completing dental school, then continue their education with several years of additional specialized training.
Dr. Ness is highly comfortable working with children of all ages; however, there are times when behavioral or serious medical or dental issues exist. Utilizing the unique services of a pediatric dentist is sometimes necessary.
As a general rule, we do not sedate children under the age of 14. If a child requires this level of care, we typically refer your child to a pediatric dentist who has additional training in Pediatric Advanced Life Support and sedation techniques, creating a safe and efficient environment.
- How often should my child visit the dentist? We generally recommend scheduling checkups every six months. Depending on the circumstances of your child’s oral health, we may recommend more frequent visits, like if they are in braces, making perfect oral hygiene rather challenging, for instance.
- At what age is it appropriate to use toothpaste to clean my child’s teeth? Once your child has a few teeth, you can start using toothpaste on the brush. Use only a tiny amount for each cleaning, and be sure to choose toothpaste without fluoride for children under two, because too much fluoride can be dangerous for very young children.
Always have your child rinse and spit out toothpaste after brushing, to begin a lifelong habit he’ll need when he graduates to fluoride toothpaste. Children naturally want to swallow toothpaste after brushing and swallowing too much fluoride toothpaste can cause teeth to stain. You should brush your child’s teeth for him until he is ready to take on that responsibility himself, which usually happens by age six or seven.
- Does my child need dental sealants? Sealants cover the pits and fissures in teeth that are difficult to brush and, therefore, susceptible to decay. We recommend sealants as a safe, simple way to help your child avoid cavities, especially for molars, which are hardest to reach.
- My child plays sports. How can I protect his teeth? Even children’s sports involve contact, and we recommend mouthguards for children active in sports. If your little one plays baseball, soccer, or other sports, ask us about having a custom-fitted mouthguard made to protect his teeth, lips, cheeks, and gums.