Caring for your child’s teeth is vital; even those first primary teeth are very important. We welcome children at West Bowmanville Family Dental and recommend they begin having regular dental visits when they are three.
We know this may seem soon, but there are some big advantages in bringing your child to see us while they are still young. At this age, they are more likely to feel curious rather than nervous about a new environment, and we can help ensure they have a positive and hopefully fun experience.
If your child hasn’t seen a dentist yet, below are a few signs that it’s time to book that visit.
Tooth Sensitivity
If your child doesn’t like eating hot or cold foods like soup or ice cream, they could have tooth sensitivity in Newcastle. Consuming these foods can make teeth twinge uncomfortably and may indicate the beginnings of a cavity.
When you bring them to see us, we can check for any small cavities and provide appropriate treatment quickly.
White Spots on Teeth
Another sign to be aware of is the appearance of white spots on their teeth. Some white spots may be due to exposure to excess fluoride. However, these white spots can be the first signs of small lesions or soft spots in tooth enamel, indicating that cavities are developing.
We can gently test their teeth for any signs of soft spots in their enamel. Professional strength fluoride applications sometimes help strengthen tooth enamel, reversing this problem. Otherwise, we can provide other treatments to help stop tooth decay in its tracks.
Bad Breath
Everyone can have bad breath occasionally, even children, but if it persists, it can be a sign of an untreated dental problem. If your child brushes and flosses teeth regularly and drinks plenty of water, their breath should not be offensive.
Persistent bad breath can indicate early gum disease or another problem, so it’s worth coming to see us so we can check if there is anything serious going on.
Toothache
Tooth pain is unpleasant at any age, especially for a young child. It could be due to a cavity or a tooth that has broken or chipped. A professional dental exam in Clarington is the best and quickest way to identify the cause of the pain.
We make every effort to see patients in pain quickly, particularly young children, and can provide gentle dental care to identify the issue and provide treatment to correct it.
Persistent Thumb Sucking Habit
Sucking a thumb or finger is a natural and comforting habit for very young children. Most children stop sucking their thumb between age three and six. If your child is slightly older and is still sucking their thumb, it can affect the development of their teeth and jaws.
There is plenty of advice online on how to help a child break this habit, but if you are having trouble, we can help. If it has affected the development of their teeth, we can also provide a referral to an orthodontist for an early orthodontic evaluation in Courtice. There are orthodontic appliances available, like palate expanders, that can fix problems caused by persistent thumb sucking.
Contact Us to Book Your Child’s First Dental Visit
Our dental team is friendly and extremely gentle with all children, treating them as family. Our dental office is a warm and welcoming environment, and large screen TVs in all our treatment rooms help keep them entertained and more relaxed during visits.
This approach can ensure they grow up understanding the importance of good oral care and can see a dentist regularly without fear or anxiety.
