Pediatric Dentistry: Bringing Out the Sweetest Smile in Every Child
A pediatric dentist is a person specializing in the oral health of children from infancy stage through the teenage years. Pediatric dentists completed a minimum educational background of four years of dental school and additional two years of pediatric dentistry residency training. Pediatric dentistry is a specialization taking care of teeth, gums and overall oral health of infants, children, teenagers and children with special needs. During the first six months of life, children start growing their baby teeth and they start losing their first set of teeth by age 6 or 7 years, which are then replaced by permanent or secondary set of teeth. Because of poor oral care, children are faced with tooth decay and gum problems, that may cause possible lifetime pain and complications.
Pediatric dentists provide a comprehensive oral health care to infants, children and teens such as habit counseling and intervention (thumb-sucking and pacifier use), correction of improper bite and straightening teeth, infant oral health examination, preventive cleaning measures and fluoride treatments, recommendations on proper nutrition and diet, tooth cavities and defects repairs, diagnosis of oral diseases associated with other acute and chronic conditions like heart defect, asthma and diabetes, gum disease management, and care and treatment for dental injuries. So when is the best time to take your child to a pediatric dentist? Pediatric dentists highly recommend that a child should have his or her first dental visit when the first tooth appears, or no later than his or her first birthday. A child should visit a pediatric dentist at least once every six months or as recommended to prevent tooth cavities and other oral problems.
When it comes to using toothpaste or basic oral care, start the sooner the better. Starting at birth, you can begin cleaning the child’s gums with cloth and water, or a soft infant toothbrush. You can start brushing your baby’s teeth using a soft and age-appropriate toothbrush twice daily with a tiny smear of fluoride toothpaste as soon as they erupt. The amount of fluoride toothpaste should be increased to a pea-size once your child reaches 3 to 6 years of age, and perform or assist while brushing because they don’t have the full capability to perform the right techniques yet. Children who are age 9 or 10, they can start using adult toothbrush because this is the time when many adult teeth show. If your child complains of toothache, let him or her child gargle and rinse with a warm salt water, then apply cold compress on the face that is swollen as an emergency measure, and finally see a pediatric dentist as soon as possible. Choose the best pediatric dentist for your child. We have the best pediatric dentist to attend to your child.
Source: Allsmile Kids
