From the day they're born, each of our children grows at their own rate, hitting many vital milestones along the way. But as parents, we can exercise a modicum of control by introducing important things at certain times. For example, experts recommend waiting until your child is eight months old before trying peanut butter and until two years before adding sugar.
At Northport Family Dental, our mission is to start every child's dental experience off on the right foot so that they look forward to their visits with us. We feel prevention is one of the best ways to improve children's dentistry in Northport, NY. So, while you may wait until after their first tooth appears for their first official visit to the dentist, we encourage you to start sooner. Here are a few tips.
Birth to Teeth: Early Care for a Good Foundation
Though it sounds a little antithetical, good dental health starts before teeth develop. So we begin with offering mom crucial dental care and teaching good at-home practices during pregnancy. We encourage you to bring your baby to us if you have any concerns, and as your child begins teething, we can help.
One thing we want parents to avoid is Nursing Bottle Mouth Syndrome, which happens when a child falls asleep with a bottle. This prolonged exposure of baby teeth to liquids can promote tooth decay. We will also show you how to care for little teeth at home with fluoride and vitamin supplements.
Ages Two-Four: Tooth Care Before Their First Dental Visit
This is the stage where good brushing habits can take root. We will teach you how to care for their teeth daily, combined with continued use of fluoride and other supplements to strengthen baby teeth. We also will continue to encourage 'fun' visits where they accompany mom or dad to routine treatments, normalizing the dental office as a non-threatening place.
Age Four and up: Your Child's Baby Teeth Can Be Strong
What we usually consider sometime in your child's fourth year a good time for their first official dentist's visit. At this age, we should have enough experience with your child to know how we can help their experience be enjoyable and cooperative. They will also receive a gentle cleaning from one of our hygienists and a possible fluoride application.
We recommend twice-yearly visits to check for signs of decay, note excessive wear from grinding, and discuss any other issues about your child's oral health, growth, and development. From this stage, we can help foster a further positive relationship with dental health through the early detection of cavities or other issues so that treatment can be less traumatic and often pain-free.
We Offer in Children's Dentistry in Northport, NY
Our goal is to start your child's smile as healthy as possible. To learn more, don't hesitate to contact Northport Family Dental so we can partner with you and help your child enjoy lifelong oral health.