Dental FAQs for Kids
Portland, OR
 Raising children is a rewarding but sometimes challenging process that leaves parents filled with questions. This is especially true when it comes to providing for your child’s health. Our team at Great Grins for KIDS - Portland is here to make that process easier by educating and guiding you on early infant oral care and the journey to providing your child with the best in dental care and good oral hygiene practices. Their oral health will affect their overall health, speech development, and confidence for the rest of their lives.
When Will My Child Get Teeth?
Most children get their first tooth around six months of age, but they can get their first tooth a little later or even a little sooner. Some children may sprout their first tooth as early as four months old and others may not start getting their baby teeth until they are near one year old. As long as your child’s teeth have begun to become visible by their first birthday, you have no reason to be concerned.
How Often Should My Child Brush Their Teeth?
The general guidelines for brushing are the same for children and adults. Our team recommends that your child’s teeth are brushed twice per day for at least two minutes per session. As your child gets a little older and is able to brush their teeth on their own, using a song during brushing helps to make the experience fun and passes the time easier.
You should also start flossing your child’s teeth as soon as two or more adjacent teeth have developed. Once this occurs, food debris and plaque can build up and must be removed by flossing. Good flossing and brushing habits will protect your child from tooth decay. These practices will also prevent the need for expensive and time-consuming restorative dental procedures that result from decay.
When Should My Child Visit the Dentist?
Your child’s first dental visit will depend on when they get their first tooth. It is important that your child has their first visit no more than six months after their first tooth becomes visible or by their first birthday, whichever is sooner. This first dental visit and exam is important so that our team can check on your child’s oral development.
Our professionals will check on your child’s gums and any teeth that they may have. They will also check for common abnormalities such as extra binding tissue under your child’s tongue. This condition is called being tongue-tied and is relatively common. If your child is tongue-tied, our professionals can easily correct this by removing a small amount of excess tissue. As your child gets older and starts developing more teeth, we will begin doing dental cleanings.
Should I Buy My Child Fluoride Toothpaste?
If your child is under two years of age, you should use fluoride-free infant toothpaste. While fluoride is beneficial for teeth in certain instances, infants can swallow their toothpaste and the fluoride can irritate their digestive tract. Our team will generally recommend switching to fluoride toothpaste after your child is two or three, as needs vary with every patient.
Do not navigate your child’s oral health challenges on your own. Come see our team at Great Grins for KIDS - Portland and let us guide you to providing your child with the best oral care available. We are available to answer any questions you may have for our pediatric dentist. You can schedule your appointment by calling our office at (971) 470-0054.
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