When should you bring your child to the dentist for the
first time ?
It is recommend that
you take your child to their first dentist appointment within about six months
of their first tooth’s arrival, or by the time they turns one. The purpose of the
under age one dental visit is to learn about your child's oral health and how
to best care for your child's unique needs before any problems occur. Many
dental problems can be prevented if proper oral care is started as early as
possible. The first visit is a great
chance for you to get all your questions answered. Your dentist should provide you with enough
information both verbally and written that will ensure your child has a healthy
start to oral care.
How do you prepare your child for first dental visit?
Preparation for the first dental visit
should be age specific. A child under
the age of two needs little if any preparation.
The first visit will likely be only a visual inspection and has more to
do with the new parent than the child. It’s a chance for the dentist to gauge a
parent’s knowledge of oral care for an infant. With an older child, my approach
has a less is more flavour to it. Over
preparation can lead a child to think that something is going on. I wouldn’t prepare them too far in advance
either. If anxiety does set in, having a longer period between the “talk” and
the actual appointment may make matters much worse. Parents are usually a source of
misinformation rather than information when it comes to what will happen during
a dental visit. Simply tell the child that the dentist is going to count their
teeth. That should get the ball rolling
and the dentist and/or the hygienist can take it from there.
How often should you brush and floss your teeth?
Generally speaking, a thorough brushing
of the teeth should take place twice a day.
The most important time to brush is just before bedtime. The last thing you want is the bacteria and
plaque you have left behind working overtime creating cavities whilst you
sleep. The second most important time is
after breakfast in the morning. No sense
brushing before you eat. Flossing at
least once a day is also a must. The floss cleans an area between your teeth
that the bristles of a brush have no access to.
It is important to note that brushing not only keeps your teeth clean
but also stimulates the gums. Preventing
plaque around the gum line will ensure that your gums and underlying bone, the
foundation of your teeth, remain healthy. You should brush your teeth well for
no less than three minutes and your brush should be replaced at least once
every three months. Always use a soft
bristled brush and for children able to rinse well it is suggested that a
fluoride containing toothpaste be used.
If the child is young and has a tendency to swallow rather than spit, a
non-fluoride containing toothpaste should be used. This is especially true in areas that already
have fluoride in the water supply. I’m a
big fan of electric toothbrushes. Buy a
good quality one. It should be rechargeable
and have a small head to get in all the nooks and crannies. There is no way manual brushing can compete
with the modern electric toothbrush.
How important is a healthy diet to your teeth and gums?
In addition to basic oral hygiene, a
healthy diet protects teeth from decay and keeps the gums healthy. A
well-balanced diet provides the minerals, vitamins, and other nutrients
essential for healthy teeth and gums. Fluoride, occurring naturally in foods
and water, or added to the water supply, can also be a powerful tool in
fighting decay. It is a proven cavity fighter.
Fluoride is supplied through fluoridated water (not all
municipalities fluoridate their water supply, however), beverages made with
fluoridated water, tea, and some fish, as well as many brands of toothpaste and
some mouthwash. Fluoride supplements are available for children who don’t have
access to fluoridated drinking water. Your local government offices can inform
you of their fluoridation policy and levels in the water. Excess consumption of fluoride can cause
mottling of the teeth so the use of fluoridated toothpaste in infants and small
children (i.e. those that tend to swallow rather than spit out the toothpaste)
is discouraged in areas where water fluoridation already exists.
Even eating right during pregnancy can give your child a
head start to good oral health. Calcium in the diet along with the vitamin D
that is required to absorb it helps to form strong teeth and bones. Supplements are usually not required if a
healthy diet is followed.
In children, it is important to limit their sugar
intake. Sticky sugary snacks adhere to
teeth creating an ideal cavity-causing environment that acid creating bacteria
are just waiting for. In particular
dried fruit snacks should be avoided and replaced with the fresh variety.
How often should you see your dentist?
Most children should see a
dentist every six months. Those with a higher risk of decay or with poor oral
hygiene should be seen more frequently.
The same holds true for adults. People at a greater risk for oral
diseases should have dental check-ups more than twice a year. Smokers,
diabetics, and smokers should be seen more often. In addition, pregnant women should make it a
point to see their dentist as the body tends to hyper react to even mild plaque
build up. A history of gum and
periodontal disease will undoubted require an increase in maintenance trips to
the dentist. Finally, poor oral hygiene
and certain medical conditions are also factors that your dentist takes into
consideration when deciding how often you need your dental cleaning and check
up. Visiting your dentist is about more
than checking for cavities.
What are the benefits to regular visits?
Regular dental check-ups are an
important consideration to maintaining optimal GENERAL HEALTH as well as oral
health. There is more and more evidence
linking overall health to oral health.
As the links between oral health and heart disease, stroke, diabetes,
preterm birth and respiratory disease are investigated, we do know that oral
health is an integral part of a person’s well being. In addition to examining your gums and teeth,
you dentist regularly screens your mouth for oral cancer. Early detection and
diagnosis is the key a cure and the prevention of catastrophic results from
oral cancer.
Mark Librach DDSDentistry on Dundas
