Pediatric dental care is crucial for helping young dental patients stay well, and for helping them develop oral hygiene habits that will continue into adulthood. Our Elmhurst dentists are here to help our young patients understand the basics of dental care, and to establish strong relationships with their dental team. Today, we are giving you a brief outline of the key priorities of pediatric dental care. Let’s get started!
One of the most important things that we do as a dental team is to help our patients develop strong at-home oral hygiene routines. This includes:
- Encouraging patients to brush their teeth two times a day, and floss once a day
- Teaching kids to brush for at least two minutes every time that they brush
- Emphasizing that the best way to brush is by applying very gently pressure over a prolonged period of time—brushing too hard can actually cause enamel and gum tissue damage
Another important thing to keep in mind is that patients who are still young enough to regularly swallow toothpaste, should not be using toothpastes with fluoride. Consuming large amounts of fluoride at this stage in development can cause permanent teeth to develop with discoloration and textural irregularities. There are fluoride-free formulations on the market for these dental patients to use until they get used to brushing without swallowing toothpaste.
Another key part of our job is to help pediatric patients feel comfortable in the dentist’s chair. When people have positive dental experiences as young patients, they are less likely to suffer from dental fear and anxiety as results.
We take the time to talk to our pediatric patients about the importance of regular dental cleanings and prompt restorative care. We make it a special point to listen to our patients, so that they know that they can communicate freely with us. It’s crucial that your child understands that their dentist is a partner in dental care, rather than someone to be feared.
If you need more information about how to guide your pediatric dental patient, our Elmhurst dentists are here and happy to help. Give us a call to get started!