Kingston Pediatric Dentistry
A child's first visit to the dentist should be enjoyable. Children are not born with a natural fear of the dentist, but they may fear the unknown. Our office makes a special effort to use pleasant, non-frightening, simple words to describe each treatment. We want you and your child to feel at ease from the moment your family arrives at our office. The more you and your child know about the first visit, the better you will feel.
The Canadian Dental Association recommends
Children should visit the dentist within 6 months of the eruption of their first tooth or by age 1. It is important that your child’s newly-erupted teeth (emerging at six to 12 months of age) receive proper dental care and benefit from proper oral hygiene habits right from the beginning.
When new teeth arrive
Your child's first primary, or "baby," teeth will begin to erupt between the ages of six to 12 months, and will continue to erupt until about age three. During this time, your child’s gums may feel tender and sore. To help alleviate this discomfort, we recommend that you soothe the gums by rubbing a clean finger or a cool, wet cloth across them. You may also choose to make use of a teething ring.
Your child's primary teeth are shed at various times throughout childhood, and their permanent teeth begin erupting at age six, and continue until age 21. Adults have 28 permanent teeth, 32 teeth including wisdom teeth.
Adopting healthy oral hygiene habits
As your child’s teeth erupt, be sure to examine them every two weeks, looking for lines and discoloration that may be caused by decay. We recommend brushing two times a day for optimal oral hygiene.
Brushing can be fun, and it's important to begin caring for your child's teeth as soon as the first tooth appears. Parents should gently brush their baby's teeth using a soft-bristled toothbrush. Because Kingston's water supply is not fluoridated, we recommend using a small smear of fluoride toothpaste - about the size of a grain of rice-for children under three years of age. Children three and older should use a pea-sized amount of fluoride toothpaste. Our dental team is happy to review proper brushing techniques with you and your childe to help establish healthy habits from the very beginning.
Flossing is also a part of good oral hygiene habits, and your doctor will discuss with you the right time to start flossing your child’s teeth. If you notice signs of decay, contact your dentist immediately.
Preventing tooth decay with regular checkups
Tooth decay is caused by sugars left in your mouth that turn into an acid that can break down your teeth. Children are at high risk for tooth decay for a simple reason: many children and adolescents do not practice regular, good oral hygiene habits. Proper brushing and flossing routines, combined with regular dental visits, help keep tooth decay away.
Your child should visit the dentist every six months for regular dental cleanings and checkups. We recommend fluoride treatments twice a year along with cleanings to keep teeth their strongest. Tooth sealants are also recommended because they "seal" the deep grooves in your child’s teeth, preventing decay from forming in these hard-to-reach areas. Sealants last for several years, but will be monitored at your child’s regular checkups.
