Start Your Child’s Dental Health Off Right in Long Beach

Early childhood is an important time in your child’s life. Major developmental milestones happen regularly, making healthcare such as well-baby visits an important part of keeping your baby or young child healthy. The same goes for dental care. Dentist of Long Beach treats patients of all ages, and we are happy to welcome these little ones to our dental family.

When Should I Take My Child to See the Dentist for the First Time?

The American Dental Association and the American Academy of Pediatrics recommend bringing your child in for a first dental visit no later than his or her first birthday, or within six months of the first tooth emerging, whichever is soonest.

Are There Any Benefits to Taking My Child to the Dentist So Soon?

There are several reasons you should bring your baby into the Long Beach office to be seen on the recommended schedule. These early dental visits will help your child develop the foundation for lifelong dental health. Here are a few of the other reasons.

Your Child Will Become Familiar With the Dentist

Early familiarity will acquaint your child with the dentist, the dental office, and all that goes into a dental visit before he or she reaches an age to develop fear and anxiety around such visits.

It Helps Prevent Dental Problems

Bringing your baby to the dentist will help prevent future dental problems like tooth decay and gum disease. Your child can also get dental sealants to help prevent these issues.

Parental Support and Education

Your provider will teach you how to care for your young child’s teeth. You will learn how to properly brush them and what habits to cultivate and avoid. You will also have a chance to ask questions and receive support for any problems you notice.

How Often Should Young Children See the Dentist?

After the first baby visit, early childhood dental visits should happen on the same schedule as adult visits, which means twice a year. By the time children start school they will be used to seeing the dentist and getting regular cleanings.

Why Are Early Childhood Dental Visits Important?

As with the first baby visit, there are important reasons to continue bringing your child into the Long Beach dentist office every six months. It is important to follow this schedule to give your child optimal dental health.

Cavity Prevention

Regular dental visits help prevent cavities in children just as they do in adults. The CDC reports that over 40 percent of children enter kindergarten with cavities. This can be prevented by seeing the dentist regularly.

Growth and Development Evaluations

When your child has a dental checkup, your provider will perform an oral and facial growth and development evaluation, similar to the evaluation your child’s dentist performs for overall health. This will allow early detection of problems and interventions that can prevent serious issues later in childhood.

Sets the Stage for Proper Oral Hygiene for Life

When your child gets used to seeing the dentist regularly at such an early age, it sets the stage for these visits to continue throughout life and makes your child more likely to be cooperative with dental recommendations and to follow a good oral hygiene routine even into adulthood.

What Oral Hygiene Routine Is Best for My Child During Early Childhood?

Brushing twice a day with a fluoride toothpaste is as essential during early childhood as it is in later life. However, until your child is able to adequately brush by themselves, around age 6, you should be willing to do it for them or assist them in doing so. Once they can brush on their own you can revert to supervising to make certain they follow through.

You should also make certain your drinking water contains fluoride.

When Should My Child Start Flossing?

Flossing should start around age 2 or 3. Your provider will teach you how to floss your child’s teeth. You will probably need to do this for them until they are old enough to do it properly on their own. Even after they can reliably do so, you will need to provide supervision for a few years.

Is Mouthwash Necessary in Early Childhood?

Not only is it unnecessary for your young child to use mouthwash, but it is also not recommended. This is because mouthwash needs to be gargled and spit out rather than swallowed. Most children cannot reliably do this until they are 6 or 7 years old. Until then, mouthwash can harm rather than help if it is swallowed.

What Are Sealants and Why Are They Recommended for Young Children?

Dental sealants are a fluoride coating applied to the teeth to help prevent the development of cavities. The fluoride is applied either with a dental appliance or a brush, and allowed to dry before any excess is rinsed away. This treatment can be repeated as often as needed and is safe even for the youngest children.

Dental sealants are recommended for toddlers and preschoolers because of the high incidence of tooth decay in this population. Cavity prevention in early childhood is an important aspect of dental health.

How Much Do Dental Visits Cost for Young Children in Long Beach?

Dental insurance normally covers most or all the cost of routine visits for children from birth onward. Some services, such as dental sealants, may or may not be covered by your dental insurance but are well worth the investment to protect your child’s dental health.

Dentist of Long Beach will always provide you with a detailed financial estimate that explains what your insurance will cover and what you will have to pay before any work is done. You will never have any unpleasant surprises at our office.

Do You Want Better Smiles for Your Entire Family?

Come see us at Dentist of Long Beach. We provide full dental and orthodontic care for all members of your family, from the youngest to the eldest. We offer flexible appointment times to make sure you can fit your dental care into your schedule, and we work with most dental insurance plans.

Call (562) 373-0026 and make your first appointment with Dentist of Long Beach today!