About Woodlawn Kids Dental Oral Care
Great teeth start at home. If your child isn’t looking after their teeth on a daily basis, decay and disease may well set in.
A comprehensive, daily oral care routine is crucial to preparing your kids to have teeth worth smiling about well into old age. The battle to get there though, can be something less than smile-worthy. Getting your kids to brush, rinse, spit, floss, rinse, spit, mouthwash… and repeat every day twice a day can be tricky.
A pediatric dentist can help teach your child proper oral hygiene habits, and instil the importance thereof, during your child’s regular visits to the clinic.
Oral Care Best Practices
Starting your child’s dental hygiene and oral care practices at a very early age is key to ongoing dental health and oral care success. Here are some best practices at each age:
- 4-24 months:
- Even before the first tooth comes through, make it a habit to clean your baby’s mouth and gums with a damp washcloth after all feedings.
- When that first tooth emerges, start brushing, using a soft-bristled kid’s toothbrush, and a small amount of non-fluoride toothpaste.
- Book your first dental appointment within six months of the first tooth, or by their first birthday, as recommended by the Canadian Dental Association CDA.
- 2-4 years:
- Switch to a fluoride toothpaste.
- Start teaching them to brush their teeth on their own – but with supervision and assistance to ensure it’s done properly.
- Ensure each brushing lasts at least two minutes.
- Keep up with your regular dentist visits.
- 5-7 years:
- Morning and evening oral care routines should be second nature by now.
- Supervision is still important, but ensure your children know the importance of keeping up with the routine even if you aren’t around.
- Continue with regular dentist visits according to your child’s recommended appointment interval.
- 8+ years:
- Check in once in a while to make sure your kids are still following the daily routines and that brushing and flossing aren’t being rushed or forgotten.
- Continue with regular dentist visits according to your child’s recommended appointment interval.
Woodlawn Kids Dental Oral Care Services
Our pediatric dental team will provide you with tools, tips, and knowledge of proper oral hygiene habits continue to help you and your child make oral care a priority each and every day.
A pediatric dental office wants every visit to a clinic to be a happy one, keeping your child’s association with the dentist a positive experience they will repeat to maintain their oral health.