Many Phoenix, AZ parents are led to believe that since baby teeth are temporary that they’re not all that important. The truth is, primary teeth have several very important roles that affect the final outcome of your child’s permanent teeth, mouth formation, facial structure, and even speech.
Caring For Your Infant’s Teeth
Caring for your baby’s teeth as soon as the first one comes through is crucial for their overall dental health. Even though they may not be eating solid foods, tooth decay can still be caused by natural sugars from breast milk and formula.
Apply a grain-of-rice-sized amount of fluoride toothpaste to a baby toothbrush, or if you prefer, a washcloth, gauze pad, or a silicone finger brush. Gently wipe all of the surfaces of each tooth, your baby’s gum tissue, the roof of their mouth, and their tongue.
Give Your Child Responsibility
Once your child gets older, you can start giving them the responsibility of brushing their own teeth. This is a great way to instill the importance of good habits and set your child up for a lifelong commitment to the health of their mouth.
To begin with, stay with your child while they brush their teeth to ensure that they are doing a thorough job. Once you feel comfortable that your child knows how to brush their teeth independently, you can leave them unattended. Though, this doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t check behind them. It’s important to always inspect your child’s mouth for cleanliness. It’s easy for children (even adults) to get distracted while brushing and miss certain areas.
Introducing Your Child to a Phoenix Dentist
By the all of your child’s baby teeth come in, around the age of two, you’ll want to take them to the dentist for a professional dental cleaning and check-up. Most experts recommend a first visit even earlier.
A big part of the first dental visit is to establish a good first impression with your child. We do this by building a rapport with them and making them feel at ease while still teaching them the importance of their dental care. Our goal is to create a strong relationship with your child that will last a lifetime and help them avoid common dental problems through early intervention.
We may take an x-ray of their mouth that will show us all of their anatomy from the nose to the chin. The different images will help us see cavities or any developmental problems of the jaw. Spotting issues early allows us to intervene with the appropriate treatment, if necessary. In dentistry, the earlier a problem is found, the less invasive the treatment will be.
Our hygienist will clean your child’s teeth, and our Phoenix dentist will perform an oral exam.
Though you may only see your dentist twice a year, we are always here for you and committed to providing you and your family with the best dental care. If you need assistance, all you have to do is give Central Valley Dentistry in Phoenix, AZ a call. We look forward to seeing you!
