children’s dentistry

Little Patients Near Foxrock Learn The Importance Of Looking After Their Teeth

Baby teeth are not, as often thought, a chance for your child to ‘test the water’ with their oral health. Losing a baby tooth early can have a drastic impact on the formation and development of a child’s face. Letting a child skimp on their oral healthcare at young age can also lead to bad habits developing, which might end up being responsible for losing teeth that don’t come back in later life! To be blunt: Children’s dentistry is quite important.

Let’s begin at the beginning

A child’s teeth start emerging in the womb. Once their teeth become visible (which will be sometime after they are out of the womb!) it is important that you start to core for them immediately! You are going to be the one cleaning your child’s teeth for quite some time. This period is crucial, however, as it can help develop a child’s attitude to oral health. Try brushing their teeth at regular times: After breakfast and before bed are popular times! Make sure you don’t skimp on your own oral health either! Set a good example and, hopefully, your children will follow.

The practicalities of cleaning a baby’s teeth

Firstly, get hold of a child’s toothbrush as these have smaller heads and more gentle brushes. Put a dollop of toothpaste on the brush and sit the child down on your knee with their head placed against your chest. Then simply brush their teeth, gently, in little circles for about two minutes. Note that two minutes is the recommended brushing time of all ages! Once your child’s teeth start emerging, we thoroughly recommend you get them checked by a dentist.

Dietary advice

Kids love sweets. Sadly, it can be what we love that hurts us most. It isn’t just those infamous bonbons that rot milk teeth however, starchy foods such as bread and pasta can be just as damaging! Bacteria is always present in the mouth and it feeds on sugar and starch, producing plaque from them and wreaking havoc on those pearly whites. Teaching kids to enjoy healthy snacks such as low fat yoghurt, hard fruits and vegetables can help prevent plaque from forming in the first place! For more information on children’s dentistry please contact the team at Dublin18 Dental Care near Foxrock.

Treating Tiny Teeth For Patients In South Dublin

Just like adult teeth, milk teeth or baby teeth need to be properly cared for. They are susceptible to tooth decay as well and must be protected and looked after. Although they are often adorable little peggies, baby teeth play a vital role in a child’s development. They are essential for holding the position for permanent teeth and losing baby teeth too early could lead to permanent difficulties with the alignment of adult teeth.

Oral Hygiene

The same routines adults adhere to when caring for their teeth can be employed for children. Thorough, regular brushing supervised by an adult will help preserve baby teeth. Just as adults must be vigilant about the types of foods they eat, children should as well, not only for weight issues but to avoid tooth decay.

A healthy diet

Parents are encouraged to avoid allowing their children to continually graze on sugary foods and refined carbohydrates. Other tips dentists suggest for helping to prevent problems with teeth later in life is to teach your child use a cup when drinking by their first birthday. It is essential to wean babies from bottles as soon as possible lest they fall victim to baby bottle decay, where their teeth are more susceptible to decaying teeth from sucking on milk or juice bottles for prolonged periods.

As children grow older, it is vital that they attend regular dental check-ups from as early as three years old. At your child’s first dental visit, the dentist will take time to get your child used to the idea of visiting a dentist. They will count how many teeth they have and discuss dietary advice with their parents. When your child attends their first dental check up at Dublin18 Dental Care in South Dublin, you can feel confident that they will enjoy themselves—we do our very best to make each child’s visit an enjoyable experience.

Introducing your child to Dublin18 Dental Care in South Dublin

Most adults feel a degree of trepidation when confronted by a trip to the dentist. For children this fright can be even more intensified on their first visit, especially when greeted with the noise of the dentist drill. At Dublin18 Dental Care, South Dublin we aim to promote good oral health habits for children. Taking your child to the dentist from an early age is essential if your child is to be comfortable in dental surroundings and in control of their oral health.

Why are dental check-ups important for children?

Recent statistics suggest a rise in the number of children with tooth decay. This can be related to issues such as diet, especially fizzy drinks and other sugary snacks, lack of dental education and poor oral hygiene. Tooth decay can lead to the possible development of pain and discomfort, and could even have an effect on your child’s confidence and self-esteem.

We recommend parents bring their child into the practice as soon as possible. This can even be done during one of your own appointments, so children can grow used to the sights, sounds and smells of the practice. This also encourages a friendly relationship with the dentist.

Tips for parents

Try to make a trip to the dentist fun by playing games, reading stories about going to the dentist and talking to them about what will happen. It is also important to set a good example and maintain your own dental check-ups. If your child doesn’t like brushing their teeth, try to make it fun by telling stories, or there are also fun dental health products with amusing characters to make the process more enjoyable.

We are happy to help your little ones feel at home when they visit our practice. Our team at Dublin18 Dental Care are friendly and happy to take time out so your child can become acquainted with their surroundings.

Dublin18 Dental Care Helps Patients from Monkstown take Care of Their Baby’s Oral Health

Taking good care of your baby’s teeth will help them establish a good oral hygiene routine, which will hopefully stay with them for the rest of their lives. Here is some useful advice for looking after your baby’s teeth:

Dentist

On average a baby’s first tooth will appear at around 6 months old and, although it sounds early, it is recommended that you register your baby with a dental practice as soon as their first tooth emerges. Dublin18 Dental Care welcomes families from Monkstown and adjacent areas looking to start their good oral health journey.

Brushing

Use a damp cloth to clean your baby’s gums when their teeth are not yet come through. Then, brushing can begin as soon as your baby’s very first tooth emerges, which will prevent bacteria from building-up on your baby’s teeth and gums, as well as getting them used to the brushing routine. You should use a toothbrush with a small head and soft bristles and you should replace the toothbrush every three months. Brush the front, back and biting surface of their teeth gently, twice a day. It is up to you to brush your baby’s teeth until they are old enough to do it for themselves, or without your assistance. Children should be supervised with tooth brushing until the age of seven.

Toothpaste

Using toothpaste will help strengthen your baby’s teeth. Make sure you check the fluoride content first. Children under three should use a low-fluoride toothpaste and you should look for a concentration of ‘1000ppm’ (parts per million) of fluoride. When your baby is old enough, encourage them to spit the toothpaste out once finished brushing. A small smear of toothpaste is enough for children under three.

To make sure your baby’s first smile is a healthy one, register them and the whole family at Dublin18 Dental Care.

Dublin18 Dental Care near Foxrock Care about Children’s Dental Health

Want to know the best way to look after your children’s teeth? It’s as easy as A – B – C!

A is for … ADVICE. As a parent, it is important to know that you are doing the right thing for your child. Taking your child to regular dental check-ups at Dublin18 Dental Care near Foxrock is important, because at these appointments you will be able to get all the advice you need to help ensure your child’s teeth are healthy, strong and well looked after. Dentists draw upon their expert knowledge and years of experience to help you make informed choices about your child’s dental health care. Regular visits to the dentist will help familiarise your child with the practice, reduce their nerves and minimise the risk of developing dental phobia.

B is for… BRACES. Deciding whether or not your child needs orthodontic treatment can be a difficult decision, but the importance of braces should not be under-estimated. Braces can help correct tooth alignment problems, such as gaps, crowding or abnormally shaped teeth. They also correct bad bites, including Overbites (when the upper teeth significantly overlap the bottom teeth), Underbites (when the lower set of teeth overlap the top teeth) and Crossbites. Properly aligned teeth not only improve your child’s confidence and self-esteem, they also ensure that your child can eat and speak properly and maintain good oral hygiene in later life. If your son or daughter is worried about wearing the traditional metal braces, ask their dentist about some of the more discreet treatment options, such as our ‘invisible’ braces.

C is for… CLEAN. When it comes to young children and oral hygiene, it is important to establish a good routine. Teeth should be brushed twice a day – once in the morning and once at night before bed. The recommended brushing time is two minutes, and you could even try setting an egg timer to make the process more fun for your child and to let them know when they can stop. There’s also a good selection of novelty toothbrushes out there to make brushing more appealing for children. To strengthen your child’s teeth and prevent tooth decay, it is important to buy toothpaste that contains fluoride and to monitor their sugar intake.