Preventative Care Visits for Children
Take a moment to consider the importance of pediatric dentistry. It keeps your child’s teeth strong and healthy—even their primary or “baby” teeth. Dr. Donald Alexander, your Jacksonville general dentist, recommends that children start routine dental visits around age 3. This is approximately when all primary teeth have erupted.
We may see children younger than three by special appointment or for emergency care.
Regular checkups are a vital part of your child’s health. These visits establish healthy habits that can last a lifetime. Keeping your child’s primary teeth healthy is important for many reasons. Early preventive care visits allow Dr. Alexander and his staff to teach proper brushing and flossing techniques.
A healthy diet plays a vital role in preventing decay and keeping teeth strong. Dr. Alexander highlights this for overall well-being.
Your child’s primary teeth affect their speech development and nutrition. Strong, healthy teeth allow a child to eat various foods and enable their speech patterns to develop normally. Children who lose these early teeth to decay may have trouble eating a healthy diet.
When mastering these skills for future development, children may also develop altered speech patterns. Baby teeth save space for adult teeth, which helps the permanent teeth grow in correctly between ages 6 and 12.
While cavities in children are becoming less common, they are still a concern. Early dental visits help Dr. Alexander find cavities when they are small and easiest to treat. Left untreated, tooth decay in a young patient may eventually lead to the loss of a primary tooth
Putting Pediatric Oral Health First
Good habits start early. When it comes to children’s dental health, it is important to establish routines early. This should include daily brushing and flossing, combined with regular professional dental cleanings and routine dental visits. Dr. Alexander provides dental care for the whole family in a comfortable general practice environment.
The American Academy of Pediatrics has made children’s oral health a priority. Early childhood caries (cavities) are the number one chronic disease among children. For this reason, it is essential to take your child to the dentist early and maintain regular visits.
Proper care can prevent tooth decay. During the dental cleaning, our hygienist will remove bacteria, plaque, and tartar from the teeth and gums. We can also provide fluoride treatments and place sealants, when necessary, to help protect teeth. Our staff can advise you on at-home care, thumb sucking, orthodontics, and wisdom teeth.
Adolescents and Young Adults
This is a critical time for dental development. We monitor the oral health of teens and young adults to ensure their teeth and jaws are developing properly. A pediatric dentist has the knowledge and expertise to identify potential issues early on. We provide the necessary treatment to prevent them from worsening.
Furthermore, adolescents and young adults are often more susceptible to certain dental problems, such as cavities and gum disease. Common causes include unhealthy eating, hormonal changes, and poor brushing habits. A pediatric dentist guides young patients toward better oral hygiene for long-term health.
Another benefit of pediatric dentistry for adolescents and young adults is the specialized care that they receive. Pediatric dentists undergo special training to work with kids and teens. They know how to create a comfortable, welcoming environment that reduces fear and makes dental visits a positive experience.
Children and Dental Anxiety
Children with dental anxiety may cry, shake, sweat, or even panic. This makes it hard for them to relax and cooperate, which can make the appointment less effective for everyone.
The best way to ease dental anxiety is to start visits early and make them as positive as possible. A good first experience sets a calm tone for all future appointments. Talk to your kids about why brushing and flossing matter, and explain how the dentist helps protect their smile.
For children with dental anxiety, parents and dentists can use strategies to help them relax. If your child is anxious about the dentist, we can help them feel calmer. We introduce children to the dental environment one small step at a time, making sure they feel safe and comfortable.
Another effective strategy for children with dental anxiety is positive reinforcement. Parents and dental professionals can help build the child’s confidence and make future visits less stressful.
Praise and reward children for their bravery and cooperation during dental appointments. Stay calm during your child’s appointment. Children often sense their parents’ emotions, so your reassurance helps them feel safe.
Children may sometimes benefit from sedation or anesthesia to help them relax during their dental appointments. This can be especially helpful for children who have extreme anxiety or difficulty cooperating during dental procedures. However, parents need to discuss the risks and benefits of sedation with us before deciding on this option.
It is also important for parents to be aware of the impact that their dental anxiety can have on their children. Children are very observant and can pick up on their parents’ fears and anxieties. This makes them more anxious about visiting the dentist. When you address your own fears, you help your child feel more supported and less nervous about dental visits.
Pediatric Dentistry FAQs
Pediatric dentistry helps you start your children’s oral health story right. Read the answers to these commonly asked questions to learn more.
How do you clean a baby’s gums before their teeth emerge?
Before your baby’s primary teeth emerge, you can clean their gums with a damp, clean cloth or damp gauze. Wiping your baby’s gums can remove food debris. Harmful bacteria can feed on sugars and starches left on the gums, leading to gingivitis and gum disease.
How do you clean baby teeth?
When your child’s first primary tooth emerges, you can begin to gently brush their tooth with an infant-sized brush. If your child is under three, use a small amount of toothpaste about the size of a grain of rice. You can also continue to clean their gums with a clean cloth or gauze.
How often should I brush my baby’s teeth?
Brush your child’s teeth twice daily, in the morning before food and before bed.
When can my child begin to brush their own teeth?
Children typically begin to brush their own teeth after the age of six. However, you need to ensure that they are brushing thoroughly enough. You also must ensure that your child is flossing before brushing their teeth.
Additionally, it is important that your child spits toothpaste into the sink and does not use too much toothpaste when brushing. Supervise your child while they brush and floss, and give them tips to encourage better habits.
How can I help my teething child?
There are multiple tips to help relieve the discomfort babies feel when they are teething:
- Gently massage your child’s gums
- Refrigerate teething rings before giving them to your child
- Cuddle and hold your child
- Rub a chilled spoon on your child’s gums
If your child is teething and is over six months, you can give them a healthy, hard food to chew on. For example, you can give them raw fruits and vegetables like carrots or melons.
At what age should my child get dental sealants?
We will recommend dental sealants for patients between the ages of 6 and 14 to protect their molars from cavities. Our office will provide dental sealants following your child’s dental cleaning.
Does Your Child Suffer from Dental Anxiety?
It is not uncommon for children to experience anxiety and fear when visiting the dentist. One of the best ways to combat this fear is to not be anxious yourself. Children learn by example and can detect their parents’ or caretakers’ emotions and anxiety.
A child’s dental health is important to their overall long-term health. If you would like to schedule an appointment for your child, contact our family dentist in Jacksonville today.