Family Dentistry
It’s important to get kids off on the right foot with their dental care. Helping them to build good oral hygiene habits can start them on a lifetime of good dental health. By making dental visits a positive experience, the team at Roslyn Family Dental in Roslyn Heights, New York, ensures that your children build a good foundation in caring for their teeth and gums and look forward to their appointments.
When should my children have their first dental appointment?
Children should see their dentist within six months of their first tooth erupting, or by their first birthday. Their first dental appointment will be very brief and allow your older children to meet their dentist and interact in a friendly, and non-threatening way. Establishing a routine and allowing your child to have positive interactions with their dentist from a young age can go a long way toward eliminating dental anxiety.
Once your child is ready for their exam, the dentist:
- Counts their teeth and checks for any existing issues or decay
- Examines their bite and looks for any issues with their gums and jaw
- Cleans any teeth as needed and tolerated by the child
These early dental exams are a great opportunity to discuss proper oral hygiene and answer any questions about caring for your child’s teeth and gums.
How often should we have our family dental appointments?
To keep your smile looking great and problem-free, you should visit your dentist at least twice a year for your standard checkups and thorough cleanings. This frequency ensures that any issues that may arise will be small enough to treat easily.
How can we maintain our family dental care at home?
It’s important to keep great oral hygiene habits at home. Parents or guardians need to help children brush their teeth twice a day. Flossing once a day should begin once the child’s baby teeth come in and begin to touch one another. Your child needs help brushing their teeth until around the age of 5 or 6 years old. They should be able to brush their own teeth at this age, but could still need monitoring. A good rule of thumb is that once a child can tie their own shoelaces, they can brush their own teeth.
To encourage teeth brushing with children who are averse to it, adults can play music, read stories or just brush their teeth alongside children.
Our teeth feel fine; do we still need family dental visits?
While you might not be having any difficulties and your teeth are feeling just fine, problems can arise without you knowing. Your smile’s appearance is important, of course, as it’s one of the first things people see. Your dentist can keep your smile healthy and looking beautiful. When problems do arise, having that foundation of healthy teeth and gums can make any further dental services less invasive and expensive.
The team at Roslyn Family Dental prioritizes making dental appointments a positive experience for children, helping to lay the groundwork for great oral hygiene habits that start as soon as a child has teeth. Give your children the gift of a beautiful smile and long-lasting oral health by calling or booking your appointment today.
