The Ultimate Guide to Children’s Dental Health: Tips for Guelph Parents

Raising kids comes with enough surprises already so it really helps if at least one part that is oral care, feels straightforward. Most parents always want to know the basics of kids’ oral health, like when to start brushing,  fluoride therapy for kids,  how to keep cavities away, etc. At Magnolia Dental Guelph, we’ve seen how small oral care habits for kids early in life can make a big difference later on as a teenager or an adult. Read on to learn more

Why Baby Teeth Matter More Than Most People Think

It’s common for parents to assume that baby teeth don’t need much attention because they fall out anyway sometime. That’s where you are wrong.

Baby teeth or milk teeth or deciduous dentition, are the biggest guide for the eruption of healthy adult teeth, correct jaw growth pattern, write chewing patterns, and proper speech. When baby teeth decay early, it can affect how the adult teeth come and make us pain your child cannot always explain. Therefore good oral hygiene for kids is very critical.

The Right Time for a First Dental Visit for Your Kid

The right time for the first visit to the dentist for your kid is when the first tooth comes out or on his first birthday, whichever comes first. 

Most Guelph parents are surprised that the First Dental visit should happen this early. The goal isn’t a full teeth cleaning or any dental treatment. It is to start monitoring the oral development of the child and answer all your parental questions about teeth eruption and dental hygiene in kids. If you are looking for a child-friendly dentist in Guelph, then our experts are always happy to help.

Daily Oral Healthcare Tips for Kids

Here are a few simple ways that can make oral health care for kids smooth and efficient:

• In case it’s a young baby or a newborn, clean the gums of the baby before sleeping at night with a soft wet gauze and your fingers.
• Always use a small, soft toothbrush with rounded with bristles specifically for kids
• Use a pea-sized amount of fluoridated toothpaste.
• Brush twice daily for kids, especially before sleeping at night.
• It is encouraging if you also brush your teeth together with your child. It is not just fun but it also makes the process to have it.
• Encourage your kids not to snack often especially after dinner and to stay away from sugary, chewy, sticky treats.

Dental Treatments for Children

Some of the most common dental treatments for kids include:

• Regular Dental checkups for jaw growth monitoring any kind of facial abnormalities and detection of adverse oral habits like thumbsucking, tongue thrusting, mouth breathing, etc.
• Fluoride therapy helps boost enamel, especially in kids who are prone to tooth cavities or have an enamel growth abnormality.
• Application of pit and fissure sealants or sealant therapy for kids that block deep grooves and fissures on the surface of the teeth that are prone to cavities.
• Orthodontic appliance therapy or orthodontic braces for kids, to start teeth alignment as early as possible.

In  Guelph family dentistry, we believe that each child is different and also learns differently and hence it is important that you visit the dentist routinely as scheduled in order to monitor the oral habits of the kid and tailor treatment plans.

Dental anxiety in kids is common; sometimes it’s because of a past experience and sometimes it’s simply the fear of the unknown. As we strive to be the best kids dentists in Guelph here are a few ways in which we want to help:

• First visit is quite early in life and only to familiarize the child with a dental clinic and the dental team.
• There is a dedicated kids play arena in the dental clinic to help them feel at home and also have fun while coming for appointments.
• Always explain the procedure to the kid before we start dental treatment using languages that kids follow.
• We allow comfort items, music, favorite toys and the parents with the child while treating them.

Final Thoughts for Kids’ Dentistry

Children’s Dental Care doesn’t need to be complicated. With simple routines,  the right timing for dental visits,  and a friendly dental team,  kids oral Healthcare can be optimal. If you are looking for kids’ dental care and Guelph,  or you’re unsure about the first dental appointment for your child,  feel free to learn more with our expert kid-friendly dental team at Magnolia Dental Guelph.