Pediatric Oral Hygiene

Primary teeth, more commonly known as “baby teeth,” play an important role in the development of healthy adult teeth. They maintain proper alignment for the adult teeth that will take their place, aid in chewing which is crucial for your child’s ability to eat a proper diet, and facilitate proper speech habits. For this reason, it is important to develop good oral hygiene practices from the time your child is very young.

Your child’s first primary teeth will generally erupt at around six or seven months. It is a good idea to schedule your child’s first dental visit shortly after these first teeth appear, and no later than your child’s first birthday. This will allow our dentists to detect any early signs of tooth decay and treat the condition promptly.

It is important to take the proper steps to avoid a condition called baby bottle tooth decay which occurs when sugars in milk, formula, or juice pool around your child’s teeth and gums and form acid which leads to tooth decay. The best way to prevent baby bottle tooth decay is to not allow your child to fall asleep with a bottle. If your child needs a bottle to comfortably fall asleep, make sure it contains water.

You should begin gently cleaning your baby’s gums shortly after birth using a clean gauze pad after every feeding. This will remove any food particles from the gums and prevent the buildup of plaque. Once your child’s first primary teeth develop, gently brush them with a children’s-sized tooth brush and water. You can begin using tooth paste at approximately age two.

When you bring your child into our Greenville family dentistry office for the first time, our dentists will take the time to educate you on proper pediatric oral hygiene practices. This will help your child maintain healthy teeth and gums during the early years of life and prevent many of the pediatric dental issues which may compromise the health of adult teeth as they erupt.

Please contact Boles, Ham, Dixon & Boles today to schedule your initial family dentistry consultation. We serve patients in Greenville, North Carolina.