Parents’ Most Frequently Asked Dental Questions
“Creating and caring for beautiful smiles since 1975” is the mission statement of Pediatric Dentistry of Central Iowa, and it holds true! With almost 20 years of experience, Dr. Whittemore and his friendly staff have encountered all types of dental problems and questions from parents, ensuring beautiful smiles for their children. To promise the best care for his patients, Dr. Whittemore and his staff continue their education to serve as a pediatric dentist’s office and answer these most frequently asked dental questions.
1. When Do Baby Teeth Come In?
The average age for baby teeth to start coming in is around six months old. However, it’s not abnormal for a baby’s first tooth to emerge between three and nine months. We recommend bringing children in for their first dental exam when their first tooth arrives or, at 12-18 months of age. Getting your child to the dentist early optimizes their oral health and habits!
2. How Do I Brush My Child’s Baby Teeth?
Depending on your child’s mouth development stage, caring for their baby teeth varies. Even when a child has no teeth, caring for the gums is essential.
- At the teething stage, use a cold washcloth or a soft-bristled toothbrush along the gums and teeth twice a day.
- After a few teeth have erupted, continue the twice a day habit, adding a small amount of toothpaste. A children’s fluoride toothpaste is okay and a training toothpaste also can be used.
- From 12-18 months, a parent or guardian should still help brush a child’s mouth with a soft-brushed toothbrush.
- From four to six years, children can start brushing with supervision and parental assistance as needed.
- Around six years and older, is when they may have the skill to brush by themselves. Parents still want to supervise or inspect until the skill is properly developed.
Keeping a set routine and teaching your child to brush their teeth are just a few tips to help your child have healthy teeth bruising routines from a young child to adulthood.
3. What Do I Do If My Child’s Permanent Tooth Falls Out?
A knocked-out baby tooth is not a cause for concern, but if it’s an adult tooth, immediate action is required and is considered a dental emergency. Call your local pediatric dentist for immediate help. Stay calm, find the tooth, and bring it to the dentist. Also, placing the tooth in milk helps to preserve it.
4. What Should I Do if My Child Has a Toothache?
Signs of a toothache may be resolved with over-the-counter pain medications, good brushing, flossing, or rinsing the mouth with warm salt water. Parents should look in the mouth to see if problems like cavities are visible. If a toothache persists for over 24 hours, call your pediatric dentist to resolve the issue.
5. What To Do if My Child Is Afraid of the Dentist?
It’s common for children to fear dentists, so picking the best dentist and expressing healthy eating and hygiene habits are crucial. Be a role model at the dentist by working on your own dental fears, if you have them, avoiding negative words, and using positive reinforcement. Most importantly, getting your child into the dentist’s chair early helps ease nerves.
6. How Do I Know if My Child Needs Braces?
One benefit of seeing a pediatric dentist is their knowledge of mouth development, the need for braces early on, and other potential cosmetic procedures. Pediatric dentists can work in-house to perfect your children’s teeth or advise trusted offices for orthodontic help. They are also trained in cleaning teeth with braces and offer advice on keeping your children’s teeth healthy with braces.
7. What Are Sealants and Cavities for Children?
The easy, short answer is that sealants are a special coating applied to prevent cavities on back teeth usually molars, which prevent tooth enamel breakdown by bacteria. Bacteria waste left on the teeth long term by poor brushing can lead to cavity development. Pediatric Dentistry of Central Iowa provides more information on dental sealants and cavity prevention for your child to ensure the best dental care.
Pediatric Dentistry of Central Iowa is Here to Help
If you have additional questions about pediatric dental topics, need to schedule an appointment, or have any other questions, contact us today. Our team of friendly, knowledgeable experts has been serving the Des Moines and Ankeny communities for almost 50 years and is ready for you. Call us today!