Pediatric Dentistry - San Jose, CA
Developing healthy oral hygiene habits from an early age is necessary to nurture and maintain a healthy smile. It’s never too early to promote good oral health in your child. There’s a lot you can do even before their first tooth comes in. Once they do hit that milestone, consider bringing them to a pediatric dentist. Here at our comprehensive dental practices, we offer pediatric dentistry services in San Jose, CA to keep you and your little one smiling.
Why Is It Important To Start Dental Care Young?
The sooner a child begins dental care, the healthier their teeth will remain for the rest of their life. According to the Center for Disease Control (CDC), over 40% of children have tooth decay by the time they start kindergarten. With regular check-ups and improved oral hygiene practices at home, this number could easily be reduced.
It all starts at home. When you promote good brushing and flossing habits from a young age, you are setting your child up for a lifetime of strong, healthy teeth. By bringing them in to see a pediatric dentist regularly, you can help stop any decay in its tracks. You also put your child in the pattern of visiting the dentist biannually and maintaining good oral health on a daily basis.
How To Prevent Tooth Decay At Home
It may seem like dental care can only begin once a child has their first visit to a pediatric dentist, but that is simply not the case. There are several small steps you can take at home to minimize the risk of tooth decay:
Lower intake of sugary foods and drinks: Don’t give your kids any high-sugar drinks before bedtime, and try to minimize overall intake of sugary drinks and foods. When you do give them a sugary drink, encourage them to drink it with a straw. This helps avoid direct contact between teeth and liquid.
Stop bottle feeding by first birthday: If you are able to wean your baby off of bottles by their first birthday, you will help avoid jaw problems and lower the risk of decay.
Help your child brush: Remember that many young children do not yet possess the fine motor skills necessary to properly brush their teeth on their own. As a general rule of thumb, if they can’t tie their shoes, they probably can’t brush their teeth.
Brushing the first tooth: You should begin brushing as soon as your child’s first tooth peaks through. Start with a tiny amount of fluoride toothpaste and consult your pediatric dentist to ask when to begin using regular toothpaste.
This is just a short list of some basic steps you can take at home to strengthen your young child’s teeth. At our San Jose dental office, one of our skilled dental practitioners is happy to provide more tips or answer any lingering questions you may have.
