Family Dentistry |3 min read

Set Your Child Up For a Lifetime of Healthy Teeth and Gums!

Did you know February is National Children’s Dental Health Month? Our kid-friendly Millstone Township dental practice enjoys teaching children how to LOVE the dentist. In today’s blog, Dr. Burden answers some of parents’ top questions about caring for their little ones’ teeth.

 

My infant is teething. How should I care for his teeth?

 

  • Wipe his teeth and gums gently with a warm, wet washcloth or a damp piece of gauze.
  • Provide chilled (not frozen) teething toys to help soothe pain and irritation.
  • Follow up meals with water to effectively rinse your baby’s teeth.
  • As more teeth come in, introduce a soft baby toothbrush so he can get used to the feel of a toothbrush in his mouth.

 

My baby sucks her thumb. Should I be concerned?

 

Thumb sucking is a natural habit for babies and helps them feel secure and may also help them soothe themselves. At these early stages, thumb sucking is considered harmless in terms of speech development and growth. It will usually subside between the ages of two and four as your child learns new ways to self-soothe and communicate.

 

Thumb sucking beyond two years of age could potentially impact permanent tooth development. If she continues to suck her thumb past the age of two, talk to Dr. Burden about positive ways to help her stop.

 

My son is a year old and still doesn’t have his first tooth. Is this a reason to worry?

 

Most children have baby teeth begin to emerge before 12 months of age. However, it’s not uncommon for baby teeth to take longer. Feel free to schedule an appointment with Dr. Burden to be certain there is no underlying medical issue, but there’s no harm in waiting a few months before taking this step. There’s a good chance that first tooth will show up soon!

 

When should I schedule my daughter’s first dental visit with Dr. Burden?

 

Schedule your baby’s first appointment in our Millstone Township dental office as soon as her first tooth emerges. We suggest you schedule this first dental appointment by the time she reaches a year old.

 

How can I make my son’s dental visits a positive experience?

 

Keep it positive – if you’ve had a bad experience with the dentist in the past, it’s important not to let him see this. The earlier you bring your son to our kid-friendly office, the more comfortable he will feel! Our staff loves helping kids of all ages enjoy their dental visits and we’ll go the extra mile to make sure your son feels at ease and has fun.

 

Read children’s books about the dentist and answer any questions in a positive tone. Tell him he can bring a special friend (like a stuffed animal) to help him be brave.

 

Here at New Paradigm Dentistry], we love treating little ones and look forward to helping your child develop a lifetime of healthy teeth! Call us today at (732) 414-1888 to book appointments for your whole family!

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