Kids!

I get a lot of questions about kids and when to bring them in etc. I made this for a school I spoke to once. Here it is:

When should I first bring my kid to the dentist?

According to American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry, the official guidelines are to first bring your child in at 6 months and no later than 1 year old. Realistically however, the typical age where we can actually clean your child’s teeth and apply cavity-fighting fluoride is around 2 years old. Certainly if you would like us to see your child earlier and provide you with oral healthcare tips, we can do that also!

Our goal at Circle C Dental is to provide your kids with a fun and enjoyable experience. I, like many of you, had unpleasant experiences with the dentist as a kid. At our office, we have video games in the waiting room, TVs above our treatment chairs, toys and prizes and even nitrous oxide (laughing gas) to make your child’s visit as relaxing and enjoyable as possible.

How often should I bring my child in?

We recommend visits at every 6 months. Not only do we clean and polish the teeth, we also apply fluoride topically to physically strengthen teeth and prevent cavities. More importantly, the teeth are evaluated every time to make sure we catch any dental issues as early as possible.

What should I do if my kid knocks a tooth out?

Your first instinct may be to stick the tooth back in. DON’T! Give us a call at (512-301-2483) ASAP and we will figure out what is best. Especially important with baby teeth is to NOT stick them back in. If you do so, you risk injury to the permanent tooth growing below the visible gum-line.

How long should my child brush his/her teeth?

Kids – like adults – should brush their teeth for 2 minutes. Every kid that comes to our office will get a timer telling them exactly how long to brush. Until about age 8, you should consider doing a “check-up” brush to make sure that they are brushing correctly.