Artful Smiles Dental Studio Does Little Smiles Too!

Here at Artful Smiles Dental Studio, we can meet your entire family’s dental needs.  We see children of all ages!  Evening and weekend appointments are popular for kids as well as adults because there is no hassle of missing school. Also, summer is a fantastic time for kids of school age to be seen for their check-ups, since they are on a break.

Five tips about caring for your child’s teeth!

1. Your child’s first visit with us should be right around age 1.  Start proper oral hygiene habits as soon as possible. Gently clean your infant’s gums after each feeding with a water-soaked gauze pad or damp wash cloth.

2. It’s a good idea to supervise your child’s brushing up until about second grade. When your child turns 2, you can begin to teach your child proper brushing techniques with no more than a smear amount of fluoridated toothpaste. You should follow up their efforts by gently brushing the teeth again. If there are no spaces between teeth, parent can introduce flossing.

3. Modeling correct technique is important. We always recommend to brush and floss together, so the child can learn from a parent (it also inspires parent to do better). When your child is about 7 years old, she should be developing the dexterity to do it alone. We also recommend using Disney Magic Timer (free app that’s available on App Store or Google play) to help kids to brush for the recommended 2 minutes while having fun with their favorite characters.

4. Use a soft or extra-soft bristled toothbrush on your child’s teeth while always making sure to angle it toward the gum line. It’s very important to get all surfaces of the teeth brushed well, including the inside, outside and chewing surfaces. At age 3, you can start using an electric tooth brush, such as SoniCare.

5. To help prevent cavities ask your dentist about dental sealants and fluoride applications to protect your child’s teeth. Sealants can prevent food from getting stuck in the tiny grooves on the chewing surfaces and topical fluoride will strengthen the enamel against decay.

Did you know?

A baby’s primary teeth begin forming before birth — at about the sixth week of pregnancy, and begin mineralizing at around the third to fourth month of pregnancy.  To ensure proper dental development, the mother’s diet must be adequate in all nutrients, especially calcium, phosphorous and protein.

Source: http://www.deardoctor.com/articles/top-10- oral-health- tips-for-children/