Fluoride prevents tooth decay and strengthens the enamel of the teeth. It has been established that children who have the advantages of fluoride and good oral hygiene habits stay free of disease. Good oral hygiene habits includes: proper diet, thorough brushing/flossing, and regular dental visits.
For children who do not have access to fluoride drinking water, fluoride supplements are available in liquid and tablet forms. Your pediatric dentist in West Palm Beach will advise you as to how your child will benefit more from the fluoride supplements and what dosages should be used.
Once your child has a tooth, it is recommended that your child receive fluoride varnish treatments in the pediatrician's office to help prevent tooth decay. This is a sticky layer that stays on the teeth for about an hour while the fluoride strengthen the tooth surface.
At home, it is recommended your child begin using fluoridated toothpaste as soon as they are able to spit their toothpaste out. Brushing the surface of the teeth with fluoride helps prevent cavities and possibly stop shallow cavities from forming further.
As you can see, protecting your child’s teeth with fluoride will greatly benefit their oral and overall health.
Baby teeth matter even though they will one day fall out. They are needed for eating, speaking and smiling. They also keep space in the jaw for adult teeth.
How to care for baby teeth?
Children are a precious gift. An early start in regular dental care is an important step to total health. It is recommended that children begin routine dental visits by the age of one in a kid friendly office, so that any problems may be detected early or avoided completed.
It is important that primary teeth are kept until they are lost naturally. They serve several important functions. They help maintain good nutrition by permitting your child to chew properly. They are important in allowing good pronunciation and speech habits; and they help your child feel good about the way he/she looks to others.
Primary teeth also help guide the proper eruption of the permanent teeth. They act as natural space maintainers for the developing permanent teeth. When primary teeth are lost too early, the space that is left should be maintained by a “space maintainer” to ensure that they will be enough room for the permanent teeth when they erupt; otherwise the permanent teeth will be crowded and not have room in the mouth.
Your pediatric dentist in West Palm Beach has the knowledge required to apply both preventive and corrective techniques, which will maintain the health of your child’s teeth. Many times, he/she can make a minor correction that will eliminate major dental work.
Some dentist think it is helpful to have the parents present in the room during dental treatment. Other, however, think that it is not a good idea.
If the kid dentist requests you to leave the operatory, do not feel that you are abandoning your child. Some children react well when parent is present, while other behave much better when the parent is out the child sight.
The age of the child and his previous dental experiences are just two factors that will help the dentist make the best decision regarding your presence in the room.
Your dentist takes pride and pleasure in helping children and shares your concern about your child’s oral health and emotional well-being, inform your dentist of any incident or condition that might help to understand the child’s behavior.
A child who is not feeling well, running a fever, or just getting over about with allergies is not as likely to cooperate. Furthermore, the child’s emotional behavior can be severely affected by divorce, illness, a death in the family, or a problem in school. Such information is helpful and necessary for your dentist to work successfully with your child.
It is important that you and your pediatric dentist in West Palm Beach can support one another in managing your child’s behavior. Your child will gain confidence and develop the trust needed to become an enthusiastic participant in their personal dental hygiene and professional dental care.
Your baby’s first dental examination should be when his first tooth is emerging, at approximately six months in a friendly dental office. This examination allows your dentist the opportunity to examine the shape of the baby’s jaws and the condition of the oral tissues generally; and to explain the importance of good oral hygiene and nutrition in the development of your baby’s teeth.
This first dental appointment is a new and unique experience: a new environment with new people, requiring a special kind of cooperation.
Beginning your child’s dental examinations as early as six month of age stars building a caring and cooperative relationship. It is during the first eight months of life that your baby will learn to trust people, to know that they are being cared for.
You should not be surprised or embarrassed when your child does not cooperate in the dental office. The dentist and staff are experienced in coping with this behavior. It is normal for a child to attempt to avoid new experiences, so as parent, do not overreact, stay cool. A parent who overreacts admits to their child that their fears are justified. Furthermore, to gain the child’s trust, they should not be misled about their dental treatment.
When preparing your child for a visit to the pediatric dentist near me, do not use words that will frighten them (like needle, shot, or drilling). Terms such as little pinch, sleepy water for your tooth and tooth tickler are much better understood and accepted by children. The dentist and the dental staff can help you with the appropriate words.
We've made requesting an appointment easy. Simply click below to request your appointment now.
Appointment Request
Choosing a pediatrician is an important and personal decision and we want you to feel at ease with the care you and your child will receive.
Click Here
Click here to download our new patient forms.
Find helpful information in our digital library.
Questions or Comments? We encourage you to contact us whenever you have an interest or concern about our services.
1037 S. State Road 7 Suite 215 Wellington, FL 33414
