Halloween is known for candy, Thanksgiving is known for pie, and Christmas is known for cookies. What better time than now to review the steps you need to take to make sure your children have healthy and happy smiles during the holiday season. Charlotte children’s dentist Dr. Marcela Mujica and her team at All Kids Pediatric Dentistry want your children to enjoy the benefits of proper oral hygiene throughout their lives, and that begins with establishing a solid foundation at an early age.
And when we say early, we mean early. Even before your baby has one tooth, it’s important to care for their oral health. After each feeding, regardless of whether your child is bottle fed or breast fed, wipe their gums with a clean, soft cloth that has been dampened with warm water. This will remove the sugars that milk leaves behind, thereby giving your baby a better chance at good oral health.
Another important step you can take to increase your baby’s chances of having a healthy smile is not to clean a pacifier by placing it in your mouth. The practice isn’t often admitted, but the truth is many parents do this when a pacifier drops on the floor and proper washing isn’t convenient. The problem is that when you put your baby’s pacifier in your mouth and then back in your child’s, you may be introducing the bacteria that cause tooth decay and gum disease.
As your baby grows and more teeth erupt, you’ll need to begin brushing their teeth regularly. Use a soft baby toothbrush and water to begin, and then as their smiles develop you can add a tiny amount of toothpaste. Keep the amount of toothpaste to a minimum until your child is old enough to spit, somewhere between the ages of two and three. And don’t forget to floss, a very important component of oral hygiene that removes plaque from between teeth where decay or gum disease often begin.
You should begin bringing your child to see Dr. Mujica for twice yearly dental checkups by the time they turn one year old. Starting this early helps your child establish a lifelong dedication to proper oral health care. Children need biannual dental cleanings and exams just like adults do. These regularly scheduled visits allow us to keep close tabs on your children’s dental health and development. We’ll not only clean and polish their teeth, we’ll also look for signs of cavities as well as gum disease.
Fluoride Treatments and Dental Sealants
Dr. Mujica may recommend fluoride treatments and dental sealants to help your children avoid tooth decay. Fluoride is a mineral that is found in nature and has been proven to strengthen teeth enamel. We can apply a fluoride treatment to your children’s teeth. Dental sealants are applied as a liquid plastic to the biting surfaces of your children’s molars. The liquid is then quickly hardened with a curing light and becomes a solid that is a barrier between teeth and decay-causing bacteria.
Call Our Office Today
To schedule a visit with Dr. Mujica, call All Kids Pediatric Dentistry in Charlotte, NC, today. We look forward to meeting you and your children!