Your child’s first dental appointment is important because it sets the stage for your child to have a good relationship with their oral health and hygiene. Making the appointment at the right time and preparing for the appointment can help you make the most of this experience.

When you take your child to the dentist in Beaver Dam and Owensboro, KY, you’ll probably be surprised by how productive it is to bring a very small child to the dentist for the first time.

1. When to Make Your Child’s First Dental Appointment

Bring your child to the dentist for the first time sometime between their first tooth eruption and their first birthday. If they haven’t grown any teeth by turning one, bring them anyway. Your child’s dentist needs to examine your child’s mouth to see if anything of concern is happening.

2. What to Expect During the Appointment

During a typical dental appointment with a toddler, the dentist will examine the tissues, teeth, and bite in your child’s mouth. Your baby may stay on your lap throughout the entire visit, depending on what needs to be done. If needed, the dentist may clean and polish your child’s teeth.

The dentist may also advise you about cleaning and flossing your child’s teeth. If you have any questions about how to care for your teeth, the dentist will answer them. Look at this appointment as an opportunity to learn and help your child adjust to dental visits.

3. Why Early Dental Care Is Important

Early dental care is important because it helps set your child up for a lifetime of healthy teeth and gums. If it’s time for your child’s first dental examination in Beaver Dam and Owensboro, KY, call Dr. Travis Wilson Family Dentistry today.

Not all kids love to have their teeth brushed, even though it’s an important part of their oral hygiene routine. If your child resists toothbrushing time, there are many things you can do to make toothbrushing time more fun and enjoyable. The following suggestions can help. For more ideas, talk to your child’s dentist in Owensboro & Beaver Dam KY.

Sing While Brushing Their Teeth

It’s important to brush your child’s teeth for two minutes at a time. If you sing a song that’s two minutes long while brushing your child’s teeth, then you can entertain your child while simultaneously timing their tooth brushing session. Pick a song your child enjoys. Switch songs occasionally to keep tooth brushing time more enjoyable.

Let Them Watch a Video

Allow your child to watch a video that’s two minutes long while you brush their teeth. If you can, choose a video that’s specifically designed to be two minutes long. If your child gets limited screen time, then this makes toothbrushing time seem extra special.

Give Your Child Some Control

Allow your child to choose a toothbrush and toothpaste to help them get excited for brushing their teeth. If your child likes to be able to control their environment and what’s happening with their body, also give your child the option to brush their own teeth after you finish brushing.

Tell Them When They’re Doing a Good Job

Some kids just need some positive reinforcement. Tell your child when they’re doing a good job, so they’ll know to keep it up.

Brush Teeth at the Same Time As Parents, Siblings

Make toothbrushing a group activity. Invite other members of the household to participate, so your child can feel like they’re a part of something important.

Want more ideas? Talk to your child’s dentist the next time you bring them in for preventative care in Owensboro & Beaver Dam KY.

Your baby’s first teeth are so cute! You love how they look, especially how small and white they are. You think your baby’s teeth are just perfect. Now, how to take care of them? Whether babies need their teeth brushed is a common question that patients ask the dentist in Owensboro & Beaver Dam, KY. If you have questions about how to take care of your baby’s teeth, we have answers. Here’s what you should know about brushing baby teeth.

When to Start Brushing Your Baby’s Teeth

You should start brushing your baby’s teeth as soon as the first tooth erupts from the gums. In fact, some experts recommend brushing your baby’s gums even before the first teeth erupt. Doing this helps your baby get used to the experience of brushing, and also helps reduce bacteria in the mouth.

How to Brush Your Baby’s Teeth

Brushing your baby’s teeth (or tooth) is easy. You’ll need a baby toothbrush and baby toothpaste. Baby toothbrushes are very small and should have no more than three rows of bristles. Some of these toothbrushes even fit on your finger, to make manipulating the brush easier.

Place a small smear of toothpaste on the brush, then wet it. Run the brush around your baby’s mouth, over the gums and teeth. Replace the brush every two to three months. Bacteria can build up on the brush, so it’s important to get rid of the brush from time to time.

Have questions? Your baby’s dentist can provide answers during your child’s first dental visit. Bring your baby to see the dentist by the time they turn one year old.

In addition to brushing your baby’s teeth, you should also be taking them to the dentist for dental exam services in Owensboro & Beaver Dam, KY. Make an appointment with your child’s dentist today at Dr. Travis Wilson Family Dentistry.

Sources

https://www.whattoexpect.com/first-year/teething/brushing-baby-teeth.aspx

Is your baby teething? This is an exciting time in your child’s life! Once your baby starts teething, they should start seeing the dentist in Owensboro and Beaver Dam, KY. Knowing what to expect when your child starts teething and what happens when they see the dentist for the first time can make this experience easier. Here’s what to know.

Signs of a Teething Baby

Knowing the signs that your baby is teething is important. Below are some common symptoms babies experience while teething:

• Drooling
• Coughing
• Skin rashes on chin
• Gnawing on things
• Coughing
• Low grade fever
• Diarrhea
• Ear pulling
• Cheek rubbing

It’s important to note that the symptoms of teething can look similar to the symptoms of an ear infection. Talk to your doctor about the signs your baby is experiencing to find out whether there’s a possibility they have an ear infection.

Dental Care for Babies

Once your baby’s teeth grow in, it’s time to start taking your baby to the dentist. If your baby’s teeth don’t come in by the time they’re 12 months old, bring them to the dentist anyway.

When you bring your baby to the dentist for the first time, the dentist will look inside their mouth and examine their tooth or teeth. The dentist will also take this time to answer your questions about how to care for your baby’s teeth. This visit to the dentist will help your baby start to adjust to visiting the dentist, and will also give the dentist an opportunity to identify anything going wrong with your child’s oral hygiene.

After your child’s tooth grows in, you’ll be responsible for taking your child to the dentist regularly, and brushing your baby’s teeth nightly. The dentist will show you how.

Need to sign your child up for their first preventative dental care appointment in Owensboro and Beaver Dam, KY? Call Dr. Travis Wilson Family Dentistry today.

Some children have a fear of the dentist – especially when they’re so young that their experiences with the dentist are brand-new. If your little one is nervous about seeing the dentist, there’s something you can do about that! The following tips can help soothe your child.

1. Read Your Child Books About the Dentist

There are many picture books and even board books about visiting the dentist. These books serve as a good introduction to the dentist, and help your child develop positive associations with the dentist. Read to your child books about the dentist on a regular basis to help your child develop an idea about what to expect when they visit the dentist.

2. Play “Dentist”

Make up a game where your child is the patient and you are the dentist. Show your child what it’s like to visit the dentist. Ask your child to sit in a chair and open their mouth. Inspect their mouth and make comments about how beautiful their teeth look! When your child is done, let them inspect your teeth.

3. Talk Positively About the Dentist

After coming back from a tooth cleaning visit with the dentist, speak positively about your experience. Tell your little one about how you enjoy going to the dentist, because you like the feeling that your teeth are clean. If you feel like the dentist is nice to you (hopefully you do!), you should say that as well.

4. Interview Dentists With Pediatric Experience

Find a dentist with pediatric experience, and ask that dentist what they do to help little ones feel comfortable at the dentist. To find a dentist in Owensboro, KY with pediatric experience, call Dr. Wilson.