Children's Teeth
When should children have their first check-up?
If you see anything in your child's mouth that is a cause for concern, we can see your child at any age. Generally speaking, children should have their first check-up by the age of 3 or 4. We often recommend that kids at this age just have a check-up for their first appointment - no cleaning. Children who are a little apprehensive are often brought into the room to watch their parent's cleaning or check-up. Age 0 to 2 years
Babies often have sore or tender gums during teething. To soothe tender gums, gently rub gums with a clean finger or give your baby a cold teething ring. A toothbrush can be introduced at 6 months - let your baby chew on it. Once your baby has teeth, you should brush them daily - even if it's for just 10 or 20 seconds. Doing so will help establish a routine for both you and your baby.
Babies and toddlers should never go down for a nap with a bottle that has anything other than water in it. Milk, juice, and even breast milk contain a lot of sugars and if they are in a young child's mouth for a long period of time, it can cause rapid tooth decay called "baby bottle caries". 3 to 5 years
Children should have their first check-up by age 3 to 4 - sooner if there are any concerns. Soothers and thumb-sucking habits need to be monitored in this age group. This is the age to establish daily brushing and flossing routines - they will still need Mom and Dad's help even though "I do it myself" is their favorite expression! Healthy snacks are encouraged. Cheese is very tooth friendly. 6 to 12 years
Adult teeth are coming! It is a good idea to get sealants put in the grooves of the chewing surfaces of permanent molars. These grooves are too deep to clean properly so the thin plastic coatings will protect the teeth from decay. Crowding and x-bite problems become apparent in this age group. Some may improve by themselves over time, others need a referral to an orthodontist for correction. Sports guards to protect the teeth in contact sports are important. 13 years and up
The teenage years bring with them concerns of appearance. This is when most corrections of crooked teeth are done by the orthodontist. Wisdom teeth need to be monitored in this age group. If they are not going to come in correctly, they may need to be removed.
If you see anything in your child's mouth that is a cause for concern, we can see your child at any age. Generally speaking, children should have their first check-up by the age of 3 or 4. We often recommend that kids at this age just have a check-up for their first appointment - no cleaning. Children who are a little apprehensive are often brought into the room to watch their parent's cleaning or check-up. Age 0 to 2 years
Babies often have sore or tender gums during teething. To soothe tender gums, gently rub gums with a clean finger or give your baby a cold teething ring. A toothbrush can be introduced at 6 months - let your baby chew on it. Once your baby has teeth, you should brush them daily - even if it's for just 10 or 20 seconds. Doing so will help establish a routine for both you and your baby.
Babies and toddlers should never go down for a nap with a bottle that has anything other than water in it. Milk, juice, and even breast milk contain a lot of sugars and if they are in a young child's mouth for a long period of time, it can cause rapid tooth decay called "baby bottle caries". 3 to 5 years
Children should have their first check-up by age 3 to 4 - sooner if there are any concerns. Soothers and thumb-sucking habits need to be monitored in this age group. This is the age to establish daily brushing and flossing routines - they will still need Mom and Dad's help even though "I do it myself" is their favorite expression! Healthy snacks are encouraged. Cheese is very tooth friendly. 6 to 12 years
Adult teeth are coming! It is a good idea to get sealants put in the grooves of the chewing surfaces of permanent molars. These grooves are too deep to clean properly so the thin plastic coatings will protect the teeth from decay. Crowding and x-bite problems become apparent in this age group. Some may improve by themselves over time, others need a referral to an orthodontist for correction. Sports guards to protect the teeth in contact sports are important. 13 years and up
The teenage years bring with them concerns of appearance. This is when most corrections of crooked teeth are done by the orthodontist. Wisdom teeth need to be monitored in this age group. If they are not going to come in correctly, they may need to be removed.