Serving patients of Erwin, Jonesborough, and Greeneville TN
As parents, we want to keep our children safe and healthy. We do everything we can to protect our children. We know that means protecting their teeth, too. A healthy smile often means more to us than it does to our children. However, we can only offer the knowledge we possess. Medical information is always changing because of new research and technological advances. New information isn’t a bad thing, though. It means we’ll keep our children’s teeth healthier and their dental care routine will be much more comprehensive. Keeping track of all the new information can seem overwhelming, but don’t let it be. Tusculum Dental Care is here to help patients in Greeneville, Jonesborough, Erwin and the surrounding areas in East Tennessee. Drs. Craig Shepherd and Nathaniel Renner use our years of experience with children’s dentistry to answer five questions parents frequently ask us about their children’s oral care.
What kind of oral care does my baby need?
The American Dental Association has stated that a baby should have their first dental appointment at 12 months old or when their first tooth has erupted into the mouth. Whenever your child’s teeth start to grow in, that means you should be brushing them. Check stores that sell infant merchandise for size- and texture-appropriate toothbrushes for babies’ teeth. You also can wrap a piece of sterile gauze around your finger and use it to remove plaque from your babies’ teeth.
What happens when children lose teeth too soon?
Baby teeth are meant to fall out. However, an injury, accident or cavity can cause a child to lose a baby tooth ahead of schedule. Losing a baby tooth prematurely means it no longer holds the place of the adult tooth that replaces it. This can alter how the adult teeth erupt from the gum line, causing crookedness or crowding. If a tooth is lost too early it can put more stress on your child’s other teeth and alter how they chew and speak. In this case, we recommend having our staff take a look and see what option best fits your child’s needs.
How often should I take my child to the dentist?
The ADA advises that each of us, children included, visit the dentist every six months for a checkup. Dental visits aren’t just to fix cavities. These appointments help monitor the development of your children’s teeth, jaws and mouth. Moreover, we perform a professional dental cleaning at each checkup, which removes all the plaque from your mouth. We also take X-rays that help maintain a consistent record of your child’s dental growth and development.
My kid brushes but still gets cavities. Why?
Children are at the highest risk for cavities because of their diets just as much as their oral hygiene. They may, however, be drinking and eating more sugary and starchy foods. Sports drinks, sodas, tea, gummy snacks, are all common parts of a child’s diet—along with a sandwich every day for lunch, and maybe a toaster strudel or a bowl of cereal for breakfast. Children also tend to snack more than adults do but this exposes their teeth to more harm, especially if they are eating foods with a high sugar content or that are highly acidic.
Can my child get gum disease?
Gum disease is more common among adults, but that does not mean that kids and teens can’t get it. A child with poor oral hygiene habits is susceptible to gum disease, which is caused by a bacterial infection of the gums. Hormonal changes can also make children more likely to get gum disease or gingivitis.
Pediatric dental care in Greeneville, Erwin and Jonesborough in Tennessee
You want to give your children the best start in life. That includes making sure they receive proper oral care. To learn more about our program of pediatric dentistry at Tusculum Dental Care, schedule a consultation today by calling (423) 639-7575 or contacting us online.