Starting your child on a path to positive oral health begins when you bring them into our Garland dental office. Our team of board-certified pediatric dentists and highly-trained staff will help you and your little one feel safe and comfortable during your visit, ensuring your baby receives the careful and compassionate care they need. We recommend you bring your child in for their first visit by the time their first tooth erupts, as this will allow us to start the process of instilling healthy oral habits early on. If you have any questions prior to your first visit, please don’t hesitate to bring them with you to your child’s appointment or call us! We’re here to help and serve as an ally in improving and maintaining your child’s developing smile.
Whether you are bringing your baby in after their first tooth erupts, are waiting until their first birthday, or prefer to get ahead long before the first pearly white breaks through, our team will tailor the appointment based on you and your child’s needs. When seeing a baby who has at least one tooth showing, we will quickly examine these teeth and discuss proper at-home oral hygiene care to minimize the potential for tooth decay.
We will also be happy to go over ways you can prevent baby bottle tooth decay, offer teething techniques, and how much toothpaste you should use to keep their teeth clean.
Unfortunately considered one of the most difficult and trying times for both parents and babies, teething is a natural process that occurs when baby teeth are preparing to erupt. Your child will likely begin to drool, cry because of discomfort, and they may even show little interest in eating as a result. But the good news is there are ways you can curb these side effects and make the process more manageable for everyone. From ways you can massage their gums to providing a plastic teething toy, we will be happy to provide helpful tips that will keep their newly erupted teeth free of decay as well as minimize tears in the process.
Even if there are only a few teeth present, your child’s pediatric dentist in Garland can provide fluoride treatment to strengthen the tooth enamel and combat against tooth decay. Because fluoride is found in the water of many communities as well as in various toothpaste brands, it can be extremely helpful to apply it directly to young teeth because they are highly susceptible to cavities early on. Not only is it quick to apply (and dry), but it is also completely painless.
While it is normal for an infant or young child to use a pacifier or suck their thumb as a comfort mechanism, the longer these habits continue, the more difficult it can be to break. Not to mention the oral health problems that can develop as a result. Children who suck their thumb or use a pacifier for too long can experience bite alignment issues as well as a host of additional problems. Our team of professionals will work with you to help your child break these habits and instead, form healthier ones that will not negatively impact their future smile.