Getting an early start on your child’s dental health is essential. Establishing healthy habits young means your kids will take those skills. Our patients have questions about children’s dentistry, and we’re here to answer them.
When should I start bringing my child to the dentist?
We advise our patients to start bringing their children when they turn one. Once their teeth begin to grow, we want to see them. This helps your child get used to the dentist from a young age.
Can I start getting my child used to dental treatment before a visit?
Yes, you can. Before coming to the dentist, getting your child used to someone looking in their mouth and feeling gums and teeth is a great way to get them more comfortable. You can take a warm washcloth and gently clean your baby’s gums after they eat or drink. This helps desensitize your child and cleans their gums.
We also recommend using a soft toothbrush and minimal toothpaste to clean once their teeth come in. Be sure to rinse out your child’s mouth after brushing. You can buy toothpaste for babies and children formulated for their dental needs.
How are the two related?
You may think that gum disease and heart disease are odd conditions to be related, but they are a severe pair to deal with. Heart disease can be triggered by gum disease. The reason for this is because of bacteria. When you have gum disease, numerous nasty bacteria exist in your mouth and gums.
This causes several issues with your gums, including bleeding. The problem with gum disease is that it can contaminate your bloodstream. When bacteria enter your blood, it affects numerous body parts, such as the heart. The nasty bacteria will attach to the heart valves, causing heart disease.
This causes several issues with your gums, including bleeding. The problem with gum disease is that it can contaminate your bloodstream. When bacteria enter your blood, it affects numerous body parts, such as the heart. The nasty bacteria will attach to the heart valves, causing heart disease.
When you develop heart disease, there are various treatments to get you better. It can involve expensive and risky surgeries, prescription drugs and different therapies. The other risk of gum disease is that the bacteria can cause issues with the blood. If it’s terrible, it can lead to septicemia. This condition occurs when blood is infected and causes numerous issues. The rate of mortality when the body goes septic is almost 50%.
What can I do if my child is afraid of the dentist?
We know that coming to the dentist isn’t everyone’s favourite activity. Our team has years of experience. We are here to ensure our patients are comfortable, regardless of age. If your child fears or is anxious about coming to see us, we encourage you to ask questions.
We’ll get you and your child seated and comfortable in our chair when you come in. Before we begin anything, we’ll give your child time to ask questions. We’re happy to walk them through the process; we’ll explain each step and what the tools do. Our team finds this is the best way to get kids comfortable with coming to the dentist; it takes the mystery and fear out of what we do.
How we help
At Toothcrew, we want to ensure your child has the tools to keep their teeth healthy. We are here to support the whole family, so we’ll walk you through healthy habits you can instill at home. Our jobs as dentists are to ensure your health and teach you how to maintain healthy teeth between visits.
To get your child started on healthy oral health habits, see us at Toothcrew Dental!