Infant Dental Visit Near You
Regular dental visits are critical to maintaining your oral health, which is no exception for infants either! The risk of developing tooth decay starts the moment your child’s tooth first appears. If you’re interested in learning more about infant dental visits in Westfield, please do not hesitate to contact us! We are happy to provide baby dental care near you!
When Should My Child Start Visiting the Dentist?
You may be wondering when it’s necessary to start bringing your child in for their first dental visit. The truth is, you should be bringing your child to the dentist either by the time they turn one or when their first tooth starts to erupt. These early visits can benefit your infant in many ways, such as:
- To ensure your oral hygiene routine for your child is effective.
- Get your child used to regular dental visits.
- Studies show kids who start going to the dentist early have less decay and lead to cost savings for parents!
- Diet counseling to help prevent cavities
- The dentist can detect and treat any developing issues early on (decay, missing teeth, crowding, etc.).
While most people assume baby teeth are not as important because they fall out anyway, they actually are very essential to your child’s health!
Early Tooth Decay in Children
Children are more prone to tooth decay as they are more likely to consume sugary foods and beverages. However, did you know your infant is also prone to developing tooth decay? Baby bottles can contribute to tooth decay if they are filled with milk, formula, or juices. Since babies tend to have their bottle at any given time during the day, especially before bed, it creates a risk of tooth decay. However, you can reduce the risk by:
- Only filling their bottle with water or adding food coloring or sugar free flavoring (ex: crystal light) to their water
- Diluting juice with water
- Remembering, your baby will get used to it, so be firm!
Sippy cups impose the same risk as baby bottles. If your child is insistent on bringing a sippy cup with them to bed, ensure you are only filling it with water. When you fill it with other beverages, the sugars will remain on their teeth overnight if they continue to drink it after brushing.
How to Care for Your Baby’s Teeth
Before your child develops baby teeth, you can keep their mouth clean by gently wiping your baby’s gums with a damp cloth over your finger after meals. Remember to get every surface of the gums, including the front and back.
Once your baby’s first tooth appears, it’s time to clean their tooth! After two consecutive teeth appear, you can begin flossing your baby’s teeth.
There are many child-friendly kinds of toothpaste, including different flavours such as strawberry and watermelon. Once your child turns two use a “rice grain” size amount of fluoride toothpaste. Once your child turns three use a “pea size” amount of fluoride toothpaste.
Looking to Bring Your Child for an Infant Dental Visit Near You?
If you’re interested in bringing your child for an infant dental visit in Westfield, schedule an appointment with us! Bumble Kids Pediatric Dentistry is excited to be a part of your child’s oral health journey by offering baby dental care near you.