As adults, we understand dental care as a simple task. You make an appointment with your dentist twice a year have your teeth examined and cleaned, or a cavity taken care of. Yep, simple enough. Now is that the same for a child? The short answer is yes, but in reality the answer is more complicated and requires an experienced dentist.
Just like when your child becomes ill and you take them to a pediatrician, the same is true for oral care. Seeing a dentist that has experience treating children is essential. Children’s mouths take more precision and technique to clean and therefore they are more likely to build up and decay. A dentist experienced in pediatrics is able to clean more efficiently (shorter appointment times), catch potential problem areas before they escalate into very large problems, and use preventative dentistry specific to children.
To ensure the best start for your children’s dental health in 2020, here are a few tips we recommend to follow:
Age-by-Age Dental Milestones for Kids
Before getting into the specific tips, it helps to know roughly what to expect as your child grows. Every child develops a little differently, but this general timeline gives you a sense of what’s typical.
| Age | Milestone | What to Focus On |
|---|---|---|
| 6 to 12 months | First tooth erupts, first dental visit | Establishing a dental home, gentle wiping and brushing |
| 1 to 2 years | Most baby teeth have erupted | Twice-daily brushing with a smear of fluoride toothpaste |
| 3 to 5 years | Full set of baby teeth, first cleanings | Building an independent brushing routine, cavity prevention |
| 6 to 7 years | First permanent teeth (front teeth, molars) erupt | Watching for crowding, introducing flossing |
| 8 to 12 years | Mix of baby and permanent teeth | Sealants, sports mouthguards, orthodontic screening |
| 13+ years | Permanent teeth mostly in place | Wisdom teeth monitoring, independent oral hygiene habits |
Keeping this timeline in mind can help you know what questions to ask at each stage of your child’s dental visits.
Be Mindful of What Goes in Your Child’s Mouth
While trying to pacify a baby, it’s common practice to put them down for a nap with a bottle of milk, formula, or juice. As healthy as these food items are, however, they contain sugar and when they stay in the mouth for too long, it leads to bacterial buildup and tooth decay. To best preserve the health of baby teeth, it is healthier to pacify your baby with water.
This same principle carries over as your child gets older. Sippy cups filled with juice or milk throughout the day can have a similar effect to a bedtime bottle if a child sips on them constantly rather than during set mealtimes. Try to keep juice to mealtimes only, and encourage water as the default drink in between. Snacking habits matter too. Frequent grazing on crackers, gummies, or other starchy or sugary snacks throughout the day gives bacteria more opportunities to produce the acid that causes decay, even if the total amount of sugar isn’t especially high.
Be Careful With Sweet Medicines
To help small children ingest medicine, it usually needs to be sweet in flavor. Because of the high sugar content, when these medicines stick to your child’s teeth, it increases the risk of tooth decay. Some asthma medications have been known to lead to oral thrush; this appears as creamy patches inside the mouth or on the tongue.
While they undergo long-term treatment, it may be important to brush your child’s teeth as many as 4 times daily. Talk to our dentist about it.
If your child uses an inhaler for asthma, rinsing their mouth with water right after each use can help reduce the risk of oral thrush and residue buildup, in addition to the extra brushing your dentist may recommend. It’s also worth mentioning any long-term medications during checkups, even ones that seem unrelated to dental health, since several common childhood medications can affect saliva production or enamel over time.
Start Dental Checkups Early
Taking your child to the dentist at an early age is a part of preventive care. Also, by getting ahead of any dental issues, you will likely save yourself some money in their formative years. When you go for your own checkup, have the dentist look at your child’s teeth as well.
Pediatric dental guidelines generally recommend a first visit by your child’s first birthday, or within six months of their first tooth erupting, whichever comes first. This might feel early, especially with just a tooth or two present, but it establishes what’s known as a dental home: a consistent place your child returns to as they grow, which makes every future visit a little easier than the last. If you’re reading this while still pregnant or with a newborn, our dental guidelines for pregnant patients is a good companion read, since oral health habits during pregnancy and infancy often set the stage for how smoothly this first visit goes.
What to Expect at Your Child’s First Cleaning
many families, the first real cleaning appointment (as opposed to the initial exam) comes with some nerves, both for the child and the parent. Here’s generally what happens.
- A gentle exam of the teeth, gums, and bite, often with your child seated on your lap for very young kids.
- A light cleaning to remove any plaque buildup, using a small, soft brush.
- Fluoride varnish applied to help strengthen enamel and reduce decay risk.
- Time for questions, where the dentist walks through brushing technique, diet habits, and anything specific to your child’s development.
Appointments are kept short and low-pressure for young children, since building a positive association with the dentist matters just as much as the clinical work itself in these early years.
Building Good Habits at Home
A few consistent habits at home go a long way toward supporting whatever happens at your child’s dental appointments.
- Start brushing as soon as the first tooth appears, using a smear of fluoride toothpaste for children under 3, increasing to a pea-sized amount around age 3.
- Supervise brushing until your child can reliably spit rather than swallow toothpaste, usually around age 6 or 7.
- Begin flossing once two teeth touch each other, even if it feels early to introduce.
- Make brushing a predictable part of the daily routine, ideally at the same times each day, so it becomes automatic rather than a negotiation.
- Lead by example. Kids often mirror their parents’ oral care habits more than they follow verbal instructions alone.
Dental Anxiety and Sensitive Kids
Some children are naturally more anxious about new experiences, and dental visits are no exception. If your child tends to struggle with unfamiliar environments or procedures, it’s worth mentioning this when you book, so the visit can be paced accordingly. For children who need extra support getting through a procedure comfortably, sedation options are available and can be discussed as part of your treatment planning, particularly for more involved dental work rather than routine cleanings.
Sports, Injuries, and Protecting Young Teeth
As kids get more active, especially once they’re playing organized sports, dental injuries become a bigger consideration. A properly fitted mouthguard can prevent a lot of the chipped, cracked, or knocked-out teeth that come with contact sports, and our occlusal guards can be custom-fit for a more comfortable, protective fit than a generic store-bought option. If an injury does happen, whether from sports or an everyday accident, prompt attention matters. Our emergency dentistry services are available for exactly these situations, since quick treatment can sometimes save a tooth that might otherwise be lost.
Frequently Asked Questions About Your Child’s Dental Care
When should my child have their first dental visit?
By their first birthday, or within six months of their first tooth erupting, whichever comes first. This is the standard recommendation from major pediatric and dental organizations.
How often should my child see the dentist?
Every six months for most children, similar to adults, though your dentist may recommend more frequent visits if your child has a higher risk of cavities.
Is it normal for my child to be scared at the dentist?
Yes, this is a common reaction, especially for toddlers and young children encountering a new environment. Short, positive visits over time tend to build comfort and confidence.
Do baby teeth really need to be treated if they’re going to fall out anyway?
Yes. Baby teeth hold space for permanent teeth and support proper chewing, speech development, and jaw growth. Untreated decay in baby teeth can also lead to pain, infection, and problems for the permanent teeth developing underneath.
What’s the best way to prevent cavities in young children?
Consistent brushing with the right amount of fluoride toothpaste, limiting sugary snacks and drinks, avoiding prolonged bottle or sippy cup use with milk or juice, and keeping up with regular dental checkups all play a role in cavity prevention.
Contact Us Today
At Smileplicity Dentistry, Dr. Atari is well experienced in treating both children and adults and understands the specific needs of childrens’ dental care. Ask us about our Smile Forever Program, our membership program for the whole family. Contact us at (919) 298-2308 today.
