Children's At-home Dental Care Sets the Stage for Oral Health
Children's at-home dental care is very important. Our Waltham dental team can help your family achieve beautiful, healthy smiles through a combination of professional care and proper at-home techniques. The dentists and hygienists at Children's Dental of Waltham can help your kids learn proper oral hygiene techniques so they can maintain healthy smiles between visits, minimizing their need for cavity treatment and other procedures. Establishing the importance of good oral healthcare early in your child's life sets the stage for a lifetime of healthy smiles. Contact Children's Dental of Waltham to learn more.
Providing You with the Tools Your Family Needs
At our kid-friendly office, our dentists and hygienists will educate you and your child on hygiene and proper nutrition, and provide your child with a toothbrush and toothpaste that are appropriate for his or her age and stage of development. We can demonstrate proper brushing and flossing techniques in our office so you can be sure you are cleaning your child's teeth properly at home.
Proper Brushing and Flossing Techniques
One of the best ways to ensure that your child adjusts to regular brushing and flossing is to establish a twice-daily routine (although brushing after every meal is even better). Your child should use the toothbrush we provide to ensure that brushing feels comfortable, and that all teeth are cleaned.
For Children Up to 5 Years Old:
For children 5 years old or younger, you should begin brushing when a child's first tooth emerges, or by age 1. You will need to use a training toothpaste, which Children's Dental of Waltham can provide. At first, you will gently brush your children's teeth, and later allow them to hold their own brush with your close supervision. Depending upon how many teeth your child has, and how they are spaced, you may not need to floss. Our dentists and hygienists can help you determine whether the spaces between his or her teeth are more vulnerable to plaque buildup.
In addition to twice-daily cleaning, you should avoid giving your children especially sugary or acidic foods. You should never put juice, soda, or any other drinks except for water, milk, or formula into a baby bottle, as this can easily lead to tooth decay. You also should not put your child to sleep with a bottle.
For Children 5 Years and Older:
Once children have learned the proper techniques for brushing and flossing, he or she should brush twice daily for two full minutes each. You should brush with your child to make sure that he or she is using proper techniques. Children will use a special fluoride toothpaste that our team can provide, which helps prevent plaque buildup. At this time, your child should also begin flossing.
As with children 5 years and younger, older children should avoid soda, juice, and sports drinks whenever possible, as they contain high amounts of acid and sugar. As your children's baby teeth begin to fall out, you should closely monitor their gums to ensure that permanent teeth are coming in properly. During their twice-yearly visits, our dentists and hygienists will answer any questions you have, and check for any issues as permanent teeth grow in.
Remember: we can be reached during and after office hours to offer advice and to treat you child in case of an emergency.
Contact Us
Proper at-home care and regular check-ups are two of the easiest ways to avoid the need for more intensive procedures like scaling and root planing. To learn more about regular pediatric dental care, contact Children's Dental of Waltham.
