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Baby's First Dental Appointment

Your baby’s first dental appointment will be fast, easy, and fun. The dentist will check your baby’s teeth for early signs of decay or misalignments. Addressing these issues early on can help prevent more complicated problems in the future. If the dentist discovers any issues with your baby’s oral health, a treatment plan can be discussed during your child’s next visit. Your child will also be able to get comfortable with the dentist and office setting without the stress of any invasive procedures.

Preventing Decay in Children

Early visits allow the dentist to monitor the development of teeth and jaws and to detect any cavities or other problems early. Some dentists may advise parents to avoid giving infants a bottle of milk or juice at night, especially before teeth come in. Parents should instead offer their child a bottle filled with plain water. If the child needs a night feeding, the bottle should contain only formula, not breast milk, water or juice. Allowing a child to sleep with a bottle in his or her mouth can increase the risk of baby bottle tooth decay.

Baby bottle tooth decay occurs when sweetened liquids pool in an infant’s sleeping environment, often when the child is left with a sugary liquid to fall asleep. This sugary liquid can coat a baby’s teeth and gums and cause the bacteria in the mouth to feed on the sugars. This process can cause the teeth to become decayed. Children can also develop this when they are falling asleep with a bottle of sweetened liquid such as a fruit-flavored drink or soda. Removing these bottles from the child’s bedtime routine may help to prevent baby bottle tooth decay.

Preventing Injuries in Children

There are many things you can do as a parent to help reduce your child’s risk of injuring their teeth. For starters, make sure that you and your children are wearing the proper protective gear during sports and other physical activities. This includes helmets and mouth guards for children and adults alike, as well as protective eyewear or goggles to protect eyes from injury. It is also important to teach your children at a young age about proper oral hygiene habits, such as when to start using toothpaste and how to floss properly. And, of course, regular visits to the dentist are important for keeping teeth healthy and preventing oral health issues in the future!

If your child is experiencing pain or discomfort in their mouth, or if they are experiencing any oral health concerns, contact your family dentist, Dr. Jennifer Nguyen right away to schedule an appointment! Call Legacy Dental Clinic at (825) 467-8888 located at 4224 Gateway Blvd Edmonton, AB.