KIDS’ HEALTH
Set aside all the unappealing things you’ve likely witnessed going into your child’s mouth. The business of brushing and flossing on a regular basis is reason enough to get an early jump on teaching oral health skills and making regular trips to the dentist.
Q: At what age should kids start visiting the dentist regularly?
A: We’re willing to see patients at any age, but normally when a tooth is first erupting, it’s a great idea to get in just to introduce oral health care, educate parents and see what needs to be done. We see a lot of 5- and 6-year-olds who have a lot of dental issues already, and if they had been in a little earlier we could have prevented or addressed those things.
Q: What can a parent do if a child doesn’t like brushing his or her teeth?
Q: At what age can/should children begin brushing their teeth on their own?
A: This is really going to vary from child to child, but a lot of problems that we see are from parents thinking that their 5- or 6-year-old “should” be doing it on their own, and then they come in for a checkup and they have cavities everywhere. Once a parent notices that a child is efficiently removing the plaque on his or her teeth, that’s generally a good indicator that they’re probably ready to brush on their own. Until then, however, I would recommend that parents continue to help with the brushing, even if the child is 8 or 9 or even 10. Even some older kids still have a lot to learn.
Q: What kind of toothpaste should kids use?
A: Honestly, whatever works best for the individual child is the one to go with. There are a thousand different brands out there, so whatever the child is most comfortable with or happiest using is what I would recommend. If your child has a positive experience with a particular flavor or bottle, that’s as good a recommendation as anything else.
As seen on NWITimes.com.
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