Pediatric Toothbrushing 101: Tips to Keep Your Child’s Teeth Clean

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Cleaning your child’s teeth is one of the most important things you can do to ensure good oral health and hygiene for your child. At First Dental, we’re always giving parents advice on how to take care of their child’s teeth! Below, we’ve listed some of the most important things you can do to help your child maintain healthy teeth and gums. If you have more questions, contact your child’s dentist in Sugar Land, TX.

Brush Your Child’s Teeth When They’re Young

Children need their teeth to be brushed for them when they’re very young. Children don’t have the strength or coordination in their hands to do this work on their own. Plan to brush your child’s teeth for them until they’re about seven years old.

Brush for two minutes every time. Time yourself as you brush your child’s teeth. Brush for two minutes each time you brush. You can make this process more fun for you and your child by playing a song that’s two minutes long. Stop when the song ends!

Replace their toothbrush every three months. Your child needs a new toothbrush every three months. Let your child pick out their toothbrush to make the experience of having their teeth brushed more rewarding.

Consider an electric toothbrush. Electric toothbrushes help get your child’s teeth extra clean. Talk to the dentist to find out which toothbrush brand they recommend for your child.

When they’re ready, monitor their toothbrushing. When your child is old enough to brush their own teeth, monitor their toothbrushing. Watching your child brush their own teeth, you can help them learn how to get the back areas that are more difficult to reach.

Consider Dental Sealants For Your Child

Dental sealants can protect your child’s molars and help them avoid cavities. Talk to your child’s dentist about dental sealants when they go in for their next dental checkup in Sugar Land, TX. Do you have more questions about how to brush your child’s teeth? Write them down and ask when you’re at the dentist!

Is Your Baby Teething? What to Know

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Do you have a new baby in the house? Not long from now, your baby will start teething. While it can be an exciting time to know that your baby will soon grow new teeth, it can also be an uncomfortable time for your baby. As a parent, there are many things you can do to alleviate your baby’s discomfort, if you recognize the signs of teething. Here’s what you need to know.

Signs Your Baby Is Teething

Babies react to teething in many ways, with some displaying all or some of the symptoms below. Some babies have no noticeable symptoms while teething.

  • Red, swollen gums
  • One cheek is flushed
  • Rash on the face, around the chin
  • Excessive drool
  • Gnawing and chewing on everything
  • Rubbing their ear
  • Mild fever

While teething, your baby will likely be fussier than usual and may have a hard time sleeping. Luckily, teething only lasts a few days for most kids!

When Do Babies Get Their First Teeth?

Babies tend to get their first teeth between ages 5 and 7 months. Most babies get their bottom incisors first, followed by their upper incisors.

How Can You Alleviate Discomfort?

Rubber teething toys may provide some relief to your child. You can also help your baby by rubbing their gums with your finger, or by allowing them to chew on your finger. Wash your hands!

Some doctors recommend infant acetaminophen for teething. Talk to your child’s doctor before giving this to your child.

When Should Your Baby See the Dentist?

Bring your baby to see the dentist in Sugar Land, TX when their first tooth erupts, or when they turn one year old, whichever comes first. Bringing your baby to see the dentist can help set your child up for a lifetime of good oral hygiene.

When you bring your baby in to the dentist, we’ll examine your child’s tooth and give you information about what you can do to keep your baby’s teeth clean. We’ll show you how to brush their teeth and give other tips.

At First Dental Family & Cosmetic Dentistry, we’re proud to provide pediatric dental care in Sugar Land, TX. Call today to make an appointment.

Does Your Child Need Dental Sealants?

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Even the most conscientious parent can’t watch over their child every minute of the day. And even if you’ve taught your little ones to brush and floss regularly, there may still be those times when they forget. Fortunately, your dentist in Sugar Land, TX, has a backup plan — at least for those hard-to-reach back molars. Dental sealants are thin, protective coatings that help guard against decay when your child forgets to brush. As a parent, there are things you need to know about dental sealants.

Dental Sealants Reduce the Risk of Cavities

Dental sealants can reduce the risk of tooth decay by as much as 80 percent, says the American Dental Association. In fact, school-age children who don’t have dental sealants have roughly three times more instances of cavities than children who do have them. That’s an impressive number. And because tooth decay can lead to painful toothaches, chronic bad breath, and other negative outcomes, you’ll want to help your child avoid it as much as possible. That’s where dental sealants can help.

Dental Sealants Are Made of Medical-Grade Resin

Dental sealants are made of medical-grade resin. This is similar to the material your dentist uses to fill your tooth. They’re applied using a brush and then hardened off using an LED blue light. Once cured, they protect the delicate enamel of teeth from damage and decay for several years. Your child will still need to brush and floss regularly, and you’ll want to keep regular appointments with your pediatric dentist. But the sealants add an extra layer of protection for those lumpy and bumpy back molars that are so hard to clean.

Dental Sealants Are Safe

Dental sealants are safe for use in children and adults. Modern versions are BPA-free, and they’re applied in such a way that the liquid runs into little cracks and crevices in your child’s molars. This effectively ‘seals’ them from the food debris that causes tooth decay.

If you’d like more information on the many benefits of dental sealants in Sugar Land, TX, call First Dental Family and Cosmetic Dentistry today. Our friendly and experienced team will be happy to schedule a time that’s convenient for you.

 

4 Ways to Deter Bruxism in Children

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While adults may be the most common patients seeking bruxism treatment in Sugar Land, TX, children can also have issues with grinding their teeth. For children, much like it is for adults, jaw clenching and teeth grinding can be more common at bedtime and through the night.

1. Do what you can to deter stress before bed

Stress and teeth grinding can go hand-in-hand. If your child is anxious at bedtime and through the night, they are more likely to grind their teeth. While it may take some time to determine what’s causing tension for your child, doing so can make a lot of difference. For example, children may feel tense at bedtime if they are not used to sleeping in their own bed or in the dark, so turning a light on can help.

2. Help your child relax their facial muscles

Facial muscle tension can lead to teeth grinding in the middle of the night. Simple exercises to help release tension from these muscles just before bedtime may be enough to reduce issues with the problem.

3. Ensure your child gets enough water

Lack of hydration can make the mouth feel uncomfortable through the night. In turn, children may be more likely to grind their teeth. By offering water throughout the day and making sure your child is properly hydrated, you could see a difference in their tendency to clench their jaws or grind their teeth together while they sleep.

4. Avoid stimulants near bedtime

Certain stimulants can actually make jaw clenching and teeth grinding more probable during sleep. Unfortunately, everyday stimulants like caffeine and sugar are prevalent in foods you and your family may eat on a regular basis. Try to limit your child’s intake of things like caffeine, chocolate, and sugar, especially close to bedtime.

Talk to a Sugar Land, TX Dentist for Help

If you believe your child has issues with grinding their teeth, it is important to talk to a Sugar Land dentist for help. This issue can lead to damage to the teeth, alignment issues, and even painful conditions that affect your child’s jaws and facial muscles. Reach out to us at First Dental Family and Cosmetic Dentistry to schedule an appointment.

How to Teach Youngsters Good Oral Hygiene

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When you were a kid, it probably took some persuasion from your parents to make you brush your teeth. However, as you got older, you realized how important good oral hygiene is to your overall health. Thus, now that you have your own kids, you want to instill good dental habits as early as possible. If you’re ready to teach good oral hygiene to your kids but need some ideas on how to do so, here are some tips that will have your kids more eager than ever to brush and floss.

Be a Good Example

Since kids imitate what they see, be a good example for your kids by brushing your teeth at least twice per day for a minimum of two minutes, and also flossing for at least one minute during one of those brushing sessions.

Let Your Kids Choose Their Oral Hygiene Supplies

Rather than stick a plain toothbrush in your child’s hand, let them pick out their own toothbrush and toothpaste. Since many of today’s oral hygiene supplies for kids are linked to cartoons, television shows, and movie characters, there should be plenty of great options available to get any kid excited about brushing and flossing.

Use Sing-Along Tunes

A great way for kids to memorize information about oral hygiene, sing-along tunes can easily be incorporated into a child’s daily brushing routine. By making brushing and flossing a fun experience, it will motivate your child to do it on a regular basis.

Reward Your Child for Brushing

As an incentive, offer various rewards big and small for your child. For example, you can say that if they brush and floss each day during the week, they can pick out a favorite movie to go see over the weekend.

Eat Healthy

By teaching your kids to eat healthy foods on a daily basis and avoid snacks loaded with sugar, good oral hygiene habits can start at a very early age. While a piece of candy is fine now and then, show them that apples and carrots are much better choices for snacks.

Once your child has a cool toothbrush, has memorized a cute song, and knows a fun reward awaits them, brushing and flossing daily will be an exciting part of their day.

 

What to Expect From Your Child’s First Dental Visit

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If you’re like most parents, you understandably want the best for your child when it comes to health care and that includes dental care. However, you’re probably a bit nervous about your child’s first dental visit. This is absolutely normal, but keep in mind that your child may pick up on your anxiety. Fortunately, you can dispel anxiety on both you and your child’s part by preparing your child for the first visit by explaining what to expect from that first dentist visit. Here’s what you need to know:

The Dentist Will Ask for Your Child’s Medical Records

Knowing your child’s medical history will help the dentist provide customized care. Be sure to bring this with you to ensure that filling out the initial paperwork goes smoothly and quickly. If possible, arrive around 15 minutes early to fill out the paperwork. Our waiting room is equipped with toys and games designed to make little patients feel comfortable and engaged.

The Dentist Will Perform a Thorough Examination of Your Child’s Teeth

The dentist will inspect your child’s teeth for any signs of emergency tooth decay or gum issues as well as indications of alignment difficulties. You’ll be questioned about your child’s current oral hygiene routine, and the dentist may make recommendations designed to keep your child’s teeth and gums as healthy as possible.

The First Visit May Include a Gentle Cleaning

If the dentist has noticed indications of plaque or tartar buildup on your child’s teeth, a gentle cleaning may be performed during the first visit. Your child probably won’t have to have X-rays because this procedure is rarely performed when children still have their baby teeth.

At the very most, your child’s first dental visit shouldn’t last any longer than 45 minutes provided there are no serious dental issues. Most initial visits only last about thirty minutes.

Keep in mind that a positive first visit to the dentist sets the stage for a lifetime of good dental health. Please feel free to contact our office at your convenience for more information on making your child’s first visit to the dentist as comfortable and anxiety-free as possible.