3 signs it’s time to bring your toddler to the dentist :: WRAL.com
This article was written for our sponsor, the North Carolina Dental Society.
You probably know that dental hygiene is important, no matter your age — and you also want to help your child have strong, healthy teeth. One of the best things you can do to protect oral health is to teach your child to floss and brush with fluoride toothpaste every day.
“Parents should be brushing their children’s teeth with fluoride toothpaste as soon as the teeth first erupt into the mouth,” said Dr. David Olson of Raleigh Pediatric Dentistry. “Infants and toddlers who don’t spit yet should use a smear or an amount the size of a grain of rice or smaller. A pea-sized amount of toothpaste can be used once the child is older and able to spit.”
The reason to use fluoride toothpaste is that it provides an essential building block for tooth health, helping make enamel strong, hard and resistant to cavities.
“Everything we eat produces acids, and it breaks down the surface of the teeth,” said Olson. “The fluoride bonds with the enamel and can re-mineralize the teeth.”
Beyond brushing, your child should also regularly see a dentist. You may wonder when to start those appointments, though. To help, here are three signs it’s time to bring your toddler to the dentist.
Your child has celebrated a birthday
More than half of parents believe their children don’t need to visit the dentist until age 2, according to the National Association of Dental Plans. The reality is your child should visit the dentist six months after the first tooth erupts into their mouth or by age 1.
“This will allow the dentist to evaluate for any issues as well as counsel the parent on best practices at home for oral hygiene and diet,” said Olson. “Additionally, you will be starting a relationship with an office in case there is an emergency or trauma.”
Additionally, your child can start learning good dental hygiene practices by getting advice directly from a dentist.
“We want to teach them the proper care for their teeth so that they can last a lifetime,” said Olson. “If you start those good habits early on, they’re going to keep those habits up and prevent cavities.”
Even taking care of baby teeth is important, as the front teeth need to last until age 7 or 8 and the back teeth to age 13, said Olson. Because baby teeth hold space for permanent teeth, losing one early could lead to crowding later, not to mention the infection and pain that can come from cavities.
Your child snacks throughout the day
The more solid food your child eats, the more likely it is that they will develop cavities, which are caused by bacteria that feed on carbohydrates. Unfortunately, cavities are just as prevalent today as in the past due to modern diets, said Olson.
“Diets have gotten worse,” said Olson. “Juice, sugary drinks, carbohydrates and snacks are throughout our society, and it’s easy for parents to give their kids those because they’re everywhere.”
In fact, as popular as they are, sugary drinks are one of the worst snacks to give to your child.
“Avoid juice as long as possible,” said Olson. “The longer you can delay kids drinking juices and sugary drinks, the better. The most cavities we see are from sugared drinks.”
You see tooth discoloration or bleeding
The first sign of developing cavities can be tooth discoloration, and it’s important to intervene before they become painful. Keep an eye on common areas where cavities develop between teeth and on the rough biting surfaces of molars.
Another warning sign is bleeding gums.
“Red, bleeding gums are a sign of inflammation,” said Olson. “Parents need to make sure they’re gently brushing the gums and teeth to keep them from getting red and inflamed and bleeding.”
Because these signs indicate gum disease, they can cause greater problems over time.
Even as your kids grow, you should stay involved in their dental routines to ensure they regularly floss, brush, and see a dentist. When it’s time to make an appointment, you can find a local pediatric dentist at ncdental.org.
This article was written for our sponsor, the North Carolina Dental Society.