A General Pediatric Dentist Can Give Your Child A Healthy Mouth And Smile Through Adolescence
Educating children about the importance of caring for their teeth and gums is a good first step to achieving their overall good health. Begin by finding a pediatric dentist that you and your child feel comfortable with. The office, and staff should be appropriate to put children at ease, with child-size table and chairs, videos, or play stations where they can entertain themselves, and that will serve as a pleasant distraction, while waiting to see the doctor. Most dentists will encourage parents to visit the office before appointment time.
Talk to your child about the first visit, so that he will know a little of what to expect, but don’t make too much of it. If you have set a good example by taking care of your own teeth, and seeing a dentist on a regular basis, all the better. Your pediatric dentist will probably invite you to be in the room for the first exam, but after that it will be best for child and dentist to bond on their own. A good early relationship with his pediatric dentist will lead your child to trust and take the good advice the dentist may offer throughout childhood and into adolescence. Dietary concerns, along with discussions about smoking, or mouth piercings, are subjects that are bound to come up.
Children are more prone to cavities because the enamel on primary teeth is more penetrable. Your general pediatric dentist may suggest supplemental vitamins A, C, and D, to help form strong enamel in the developing permanent teeth. Fluoride in the water supply, and in the toothpaste your child uses. Look for the seal of approval by the ADA.
