Healthy Teeth: Why Starting Early is Key

At Toothworks, we believe preventive oral hygiene is a key best defence against a variety of dental concerns that could affect your oral health. Here the dentists at our Toothworks Bay Adelaide Dental location explain how establishing a good dental health care routine early on in life can help set your child up for good lifelong oral hygiene.

As parents of an infant, visiting the dentist may seem a trip best left until there is a mouthful of teeth to contend with. However, the Canadian Dental Association recommends visiting your dentist for an assessment at the signs of a first tooth, or by 12 months of age.

The initial visit can help your child learn to become comfortable with their dentist and establish a trusting relationship. A quick check of their teeth and gums will be done. From their first visit, you should begin to bring your child every six months for a routine dental checkup.

Why You Should Bring Your Child to The Dentist Early

1. Build trust. By bringing your child to the dentist from early on you can help build their trust which is an important step in the prevention and treatment of problems.
2. Check technique. Find out if the teeth cleaning routine at home is working. If spots are being missed, early discovery is key to keeping those teeth healthy!
3. Proactive approach. By visiting the dentist every six months, your dentist can be proactive and catch any developing issues early.

It’s important to recognize that your child's baby teeth have a higher risk of developing early childhood tooth decay as their protective enamel is thinner than that of permanent teeth. Tooth decay can be painful, impacting your child’s overall health. It can also trigger issues with sleeping, speaking or eating, as well as their ability to focus or learn.

Tips to Encourage Good Dental Care for Your Child

• Begin even before the first tooth appears! Using a clean, damp cloth, wipe your baby’s gums twice a day.
• Avoid offering bottles prior to naps or bedtime. If you can’t avoid it, try using water instead of milk or juice to avoid decay. Limit time with a bottle to five minutes or less to help prevent the development of orthodontic issues.
• Your child's first dentist visit should occur no later than by the time they are a year old.
• At the first sign of a tooth, brush your child’s teeth daily using a soft-bristled toothbrush and a very small amount of fluoride-free toothpaste until they’re old enough to spit it out (typically around 3 years old).
• Let your child practice brushing by copying you, then finish for them, making sure that all surfaces have been cleaned. Your child will need help with brushing until they’re about 8 years old.
• Begin helping your child to get into the habit of brushing their teeth twice daily from an early age.
• Replace toothbrushes every few months or when they begin to show signs of wear, such as flattening or bushy bristles.
• Bring your child for regular dental visits. Every six months is optimal, but this may vary depending on your dentist.

To begin your child's journey to good oral health, Toothworks Bay Adelaide Dental Dentists">contact our Toothworks Bay Adelaide Dental dentists to make an appointment. Or find a Toothworks location in Toronto (GTA), London, Kitchener, Waterloo or Ottawa.