Feeding your child a healthy diet, ensuring that he or she gets plenty
of sleep, and encouraging physical activity are all important components
of overall wellness. However, your child’s oral hygiene should also
be a priority, even if he or she doesn’t have teeth yet. To promote
pediatric dental health, your
dentist is likely to recommend the following guidelines.
Care for Your Child’s Gums and Primary Teeth
Even before your child’s primary teeth are visible, you can promote
his or her oral health. After feeding your child, use a soft, clean, and
damp piece of cloth or sterile gauze to gently wipe your child’s
gums. Avoid putting babies to bed with a bottle, since this can lead to
baby bottle decay, or early tooth decay. When your child’s primary
teeth do begin to erupt, it’s time to schedule his or her first
appointment with a pediatric dentist. Even if your child’s teeth
erupt late, it’s recommended you schedule the first appointment
no later than your child’s first birthday. As the first set of teeth
erupts, your child may become fussy because his or her gums are sore.
You can provide a teething ring to soothe your child.
Encourage Good Oral Hygiene Habits
When your child’s primary teeth erupt, you can begin
demonstrating good oral hygiene habits. Gently clean your child’s teeth with an appropriately sized toothbrush
with soft bristles. Follow your dentist’s recommendations regarding
when to use toothpaste and how much to use. Your dentist can also guide
you in flossing your child’s teeth and checking them regularly for
signs of decay.
Schedule Regular Dentist Visits
One of the most effective ways to protect your youngster’s oral health
is to schedule appointments with a pediatric dentist every six months.
Your child will receive a professional cleaning, exam, and X-rays. Regular
appointments not only prevent dental problems; they also allow the dentist
to detect potential issues as early as possible.
At the pediatric dentistry practice of Dr. Charles Marks, we welcome the
youngest of patients and strive to make their visits to us as fun and
stress-free as possible. In addition to preventive care, our office provides
a full range of general dentistry and cosmetic dentistry services, including
fillings, extractions, root canals, teeth whitening, and many more. Give
us a call at (212) 279-1232 to
schedule an appointment at our dentist office in New York.