Caring for your child’s teeth| Pediatric Dentistry in Grande Prairie, Alberta
It’s never too early to start thinking about your child’s oral health. In fact, it’s recommended that children be brought in within six months of their first tooth erupting.
Baby teeth play a big part in overall dental health and development. These teeth may stay in your child’s mouth for up to twelve years. Making sure that the child knows how to care for teeth can have a positive impact on their future oral health and ensure that their adult teeth come in healthy.
Developing healthy habits
A big benefit of maintaining your child’s oral health is establishing habits that they will hopefully carry into adulthood. You can make the experience fun for them by letting them choose their own toothbrush, or having a special song that you could play while they brush to help them remember to brush for two minutes. Bringing them in for regular dental checkups will not only help keep cavities at bay, it will help them to view going to the dentist as a positive experience.. Dr. Boisson is great with kids, and will ensure that your child is comfortable during any necessary procedures or cleanings.
Speech and language
From 0-5 years, your child’s speech and language skills are rapidly developing. The baby teeth play a key role in helping your child learn to form words and speak. Losing any of these teeth due to decay or accidents could have a detrimental effect on the child’s speech development.
Paving the way for adult teeth
The baby teeth are holding space for the adult teeth which will start coming in around age six. Tooth loss early could lead to the remaining teeth shifting and crowding in the mouth, which will impact the eruption of the adult teeth. Also, if left untreated, deep decay can affect the root of the tooth and spread to the adult tooth below.
We recommend booking your child’s first dental appointment before they are one year of age. This will help get your child used to dental visits as well as ensure that their teeth are erupting properly. Your dentist can give you helpful tips on coping with teething, selecting the right toothbrush and paste as well as addressing any additional questions or concerns you may have. We look forward to seeing your entire family, and getting your child started on the path to a lifetime of healthy and strong teeth.