Not sure when to start educating your child about dental hygiene? At Newfield Dental, it’s never too early! To effectively prevent decay and cavities, teaching your child how to properly brush, floss, and care for their teeth is absolutely key at a young age. Our dedicated team is happy to educate parents about starting habits in, and out, of our Stamford dentist office. Read on to learn more!
While your child’s first dental visit usually lands right after their third birthday, it’s best to familiarize your child with the sensations of toothbrushes, child-safe toothpaste, and even flossing! At this first visit, your child will have a brief examination of their teeth and gums. If necessary, an x-ray will be taken to assess any decay. This x-ray also enlightens our doctors about the progress of your child’s adult teeth! This is incredibly important, as we can predict the trajectory of your child’s treatment plans. Finally, a doctor at our Stamford dentist office may apply topical fluoride after cleaning your child’s teeth. Fluoride protects against decay, so be sure to begin providing appropriate amounts of fluoride at home, as well.
After your child’s first visit, our office can begin to formulate their treatment plan, if necessary. At Newfield Dental, we may suggest dental sealant technology to protect your child’s teeth, bonding space-age plastics to decay-prone teeth. These dental sealants prevent decay in hard-to-reach spots of the mouth. To avoid the need for sealants, ensure that your child brushes, flosses, and rinses frequently, and limits intake of sticky, sugary foods. Call our Stamford dentist office at (203) 883-6967 to discuss with our trained professionals whether dental sealants are the right choice for your child!
Be sure to establish good habits with proper brushing techniques! At Newfield Dental, we recommend using a soft/medium strength toothbrush at a 45-degree angle between your teeth and gums. This allows the bristles to reach the gum line and remove any excess food or accumulating plaque. Teach your child to brush in circular motions, and don’t forget to reach the back teeth and gums! All surfaces of your teeth need to be brushed, not just the visible parts. Watch that your child is also brushing the backsides and chewing surfaces of their teeth, removing any remaining build-up. After rinsing thoroughly, consider introducing your child to floss! Floss allows you to reach between teeth where your toothbrush cannot. If you do not remove plaque from these inner surfaces, periodontal disease, or gum disease, can arise. Teach your child to wrap the floss around one finger on each hand to tightly slide between each tooth. Using a very gentle back-and-forth movement, supervise your child as they clean the inner surfaces of their teeth. Adding floss into their daily dental hygiene routines will greatly reduce their chances of gum disease and decay. If you have any questions regarding your child’s dental habits, don’t hesitate to call our trusted dentists at Newfield Dental!
First dental appointments don’t need to be scary! Our team at Newfield Dental is excited to meet their newest patients with open arms. Call us at (203) 883-6967 or visit NewfieldDental.com/Contact-Us to book your child’s first dental check-up today!