Good oral hygiene starts at a very young age. In fact, when children learn how to take care of their teeth, they are likely to continue those good habits into young adulthood and beyond. On the flip side, poor dental care can linger into adulthood. There are many reasons why it’s important to start teaching your kid about taking care of their teeth early.

Before your child even has teeth, you’ll need to keep their gums healthy by wiping them with a soft cloth after each feeding. This is actually where good dental care begins and continues until your kid starts to eat solid foods. This usually happens at about 6 months of age.

By the time your little one’s teeth have started to erupt, you’ll be ready to buy a finger brush. This is a device that’s made especially for children and it’s placed on your finger. A finger brush enables you to remove particles that are on your child’s teeth, gums and tongue. This is perfect for when their teeth are just starting to bud.

Building the Relationship

There is about a six month period from the time your child’s teeth start to develop until it’s time to visit a pediatric dentist. Fortunately, the pediatric dentists at Kidzania are accustomed to working with kids of all ages and stages in their development. The first time you take your child to the dentist should be at around twelve months of age.

Pediatric dentists want to build great relationships with parents and their kids. Their goal is to ensure dental visits are exciting and fun for children. Generally speaking, even the décor in a pediatric dental office is more vibrant and perfect for children. It’s possible to create a situation where your kid starts to look forward to visiting the dentist. Maintaining a positive attitude can help you achieve this goal.

Preventative Care

Taking your kid to regular visits for preventative care will give you a chance to cultivate a positive relationship with the dentist over time. By ensuring regular preventative care, you’re teaching your kid good hygiene as a way to prevent the growth of cavities. You can contact your pediatric dentist for guidance on ways to teach your kid how to take good care of their teeth for many years to come. Your dentist can also provide guidance for how to ensure your little one is comfortable during each dental visit. They can also foster excitement about dental care at home.

One of the most important ways to ensure your kid feels comfortable with going to the dentist is making sure they don’t experience any pain during the visits. This is usually accomplished with numbing cream, which stays on the gums for about ten minutes before the procedure is started.

Oral Sedation

There are extreme instances when oral sedation is recommended by a pediatric dentist if your kid is fearful and there are issues like cavities that need to be addressed. This usually takes place with IV sedation and is handled by a qualified and trusted anesthesiologist. Oral sedation would have to be scheduled in advance.

A good relationship with your child’s pediatric dentist is all about the comfort level of your kid. Another great way to help your little one feel good about going to the dentist is to lead by example. You can do this by bringing them to your dental appointments. This will allow your kid to see that dental visits are not painful or scary. Children learn best from example, which makes you the perfect teacher.