Increasingly, dentists are seeing young children with tooth decay. Therefore, your local child dentist in Omaha NE recommend that parents start oral hygiene at an early age, even before the first tooth appears, in addition to seeing the dentist when the baby gets their first tooth or on their first birthday. Years ago, the recommendation of pediatricians was to perform the first dental checkup when the milk teeth come in. The primary (or milk teeth) consist of 20 teeth and should be intact by three years of age. However, the presence of dental decay in children under 3 years combined with other problems associated with the primary dentition, have forced specialists to change certain recommendations. This is dependent upon establishing preventive measures. After the first review, checks should be made, if all goes well, twice a year.
Your provider will review your child’s teeth and gums, and see if there is tooth decay or potential problems such as cross-bite. Abnormal growths will be assessed and they will probably review the dental and medical history of the child at this point. This is the time to correct bad habits and introduce good cleaning habits. When it comes time to go to the child dentist in Omaha NE, parents should strive to give their child a sense of confidence and security. It is necessary that the child and dentist has a good relationship and no fears or worries are created.
You should have the habit of regularly reviewing your child’s teeth. Note that healthy teeth have a uniformly white appearance. If you see spots or stains on the teeth, it is desirable to hasten the visit to the dentist. Even before the first tooth appears, cleaning should be performed at once. To do this, you can use a moistened gauze. When teething starts, turn to the brush but remember that you cannot use toothpaste until the child reaches 2 years unless otherwise stated. Once directed, put a small amount of toothpaste (fluoride-free) on the toothbrush and brush accordingly. And remember to keep an eye on tooth decay. You can do this by reducing the amount of time the child drinks out of a bottle and watching their diet to ensure they do not eat sugary foods too often. Meet Dr. George M. Rakes for more information.
