Oral health routines often begin in childhood! To help your child maintain a healthy smile they grow, at home brushing and flossing, in combination with professional cleanings and checkups are crucial. In order to help prevent the development of cavities, we may recommend fluoride treatments, dental sealants, and specific tips to help maintain their dental hygiene routine.
Our dentist recommends that children see a dentist for the first time around the age of three or at the sign of their first tooth. Not unlike adults, children should visit the dentist 2-3 times a year. However, we may recommend more frequent visits should we have any concerns.
After the eruption of adult teeth in children, thumb sucking can cause the teeth to become improperly aligned or push the teeth outward. Thumb sucking can also lead to malformation in the upper palate (also known as the roof of the mouth).
At Tweed Dental Care, our dental team has worked with children for over 25 years, assisting parents in helping their children to stop sucking their thumbs. Our team understands how challenging it can be for parents to relieve their children of this habit. One option available to discourage thumb sucking is using a custom-made dental appliance placed behind your child’s front teeth.
The appliance is not uncomfortable for the child, but will help discourage thumb sucking by making it less enjoyable.
During your child's regular office visit, your dental hygienist will ‘paint’ sealant onto the chewing surface of the child's permanent molars. The sealant is bonded into place to seal any grooves that may cause potential problem areas susceptible to decay.
With proper care, dental sealants can remain on your child's teeth for a number of years following application. If the sealant does wear off, it can easily be re-applied.
During your child's checkup, our team will assess your child’s oral health and advise if their dental sealant should be reapplied to help prevent decay on their permanent molars.
Children who have dental sealants on their permanent molars may still require fluoride. While dental sealants provide protection from cavities for the teeth on which they are placed, the other teeth that are not protected by the sealants require fluoride for additional protection from cavities.