Children's Dentistry

Preventative, pediatric dental care is essential to having healthy adult teeth and to avoiding discomfort during childhood due to dental infections. Apart from getting your child into the habit of routine dental cleanings, we offer fluoride treatments, sealants, and orthodontic screenings for our pediatric patients.

When should I bring my child to the dentist?

Care for baby teeth should begin as soon as the first tooth appears. We recommend that you bring your child in for an exam no later than his or her first birthday. Regular six-month checkups from then on will put kids on a similar schedule to most adults. We can monitor your child for dental problems while customizing preventive coaching to fit specific conditions.

As a parent, some early steps can help guard your child against tooth decay, even before the first dental visit:

  • Your baby's teeth should always be flushed with water or wiped down with a damp cloth after feeding, especially before they fall asleep. Milk or formula residue left in the mouth promote decay. Untreated cavities can eventually lead to pain and infection, and impair the development of the adult dentition.

  • Try to wean your child off breastfeeding or bottled milk by age one year. This effort helps avoid decay and minimizes the chance of jaw growth problems from excessive sucking.

  • Begin brushing as soon as the first tooth appears. Start by brushing with a soft bristled brush and a rice-grained sized smear of fluoridated toothpaste. This small amount of fluoride when ingested on a daily basis even by children not old enough to rinse or spit helps incorporate into developing enamel, making adult teeth stronger and more cavity resistant when they do erupt.

  • Once your child is old enough to begin brushing on his or her own, continue to monitor them, going back to clean any areas they may have missed. Children should be monitored while brushing until they are at least seven years of age.

  • Don't give bottles of sugary drinks, carbonated beverages of any kind, or milk before bedtime, and always clean teeth before sleeping.

  • Use a straw with sugary beverages to allow the teeth to have less contact with the liquid.

  • Try to limit the overall sugary or acidic foods your child eats and drinks.