Dentist Mount Kisco NY | Dr Steven Abel Shares Dental Health Tips For Children And Teens

Dentist Mount Kisco NY  | Dr. Steven Abel would like to share the following dental health tips with parents of children and teens.  The first thing you need to know is that teeth are really important.  Even Baby Teeth!!!  Don't give teeth the brush off!

Parents should help babies and toddlers with brushing and flossing their teeth, but even older children may not have the manual dexterity to properly clean their teeth. Here are some tips for establishing good dental habits:

For Children Under age 3

When teeth first emerge, brush your child's with a tiny amount of  fluoride toothpaste at least twice daily.  Our office recommends using about as much as a grain of rice on an infant size soft toothbrush. We also recommend that you begin flossing their teeth as soon as you have two teeth that touch.

 

For Children Ages 3 to 6

At about age 3-6, you will increase the amount of toothpaste that you use to about the size of a pea.  Make sure that you are brushing your child's teeth, at least twice daily.

Make sure that you teach your child to spit, not swallow the toothpaste.

As your child gets older teach them how to brush by themselves, but be sure to supervise them.  We want to teach them healthy habits from a young age!

For Children Ages 7 to 8

You will still want to continue to supervising your child's brushing.  When you bring them in for their dental hygiene visit, we can show you how to use disclosing tablets at home. Disclosing tablets stain the plaque on the teeth, making it visible so that you can easily brush it away.  It also makes it easy to show your child where they missed when they brush.  At this point we will also show your child how to use a floss threader to make flossing easier.  

For Your Pre-Teens and Teens

Our office recommends that they brush at least twice daily and floss at least once daily. Other really important advice would be to make sure they avoid sugary or starchy snacks which could make them much more prone to cavities.  You also want to educate them on the dangers of smoking and chewing tobacco.  

If your child plays sports, please make an appointment so that we can make them a custom fitting mouthguard.  Dental injuries are very common during sporting activities and we want to make sure we minimize that.  Store bought, over the counter mouth guards are NOT effective for this.

We also want to educate teens about the dangers of lip and tongue piercings.  Infections and broken teeth are just some of the problems.  

For ALL children and Teens (And Parents Too!!)

Be sure to see us here at Westchester Dental Care at least twice a year (or more often depending on your particular needs) for your professional Dental Hygiene Visit or Periodontal Maintenance Visit.  At these very important visits we will do a thorough exam, check for tooth decay, gum disease, and oral cancer.  One of our skilled hygienists will also professionally clean your teeth and give you a professional strength fluoride treatment to reduce your chances of any new cavities by as much as 70%.  We are totally committed to both your oral health and your overall health.  

Dentist In Mount Kisco NY Discusses When Your Child Will Lose Baby Teeth And Get Permanent Teeth

Many parents worry that their children’s teeth are not falling out on time.  A lot of concerned parents want to know:  When will my child lose his or her first baby tooth?  At what age should the last tooth fall out?  Is there a specific order in which the teeth are lost?

Dr. Steven Abel and Dr. Frank Turturro and our team explain that a child’s 20 baby teeth (primary teeth) typically come in by age three and begin to loosen and fall out on their own to make room for permanent teeth, which usually appear by the time your child is six.  It is important to know that timing may vary, and girls typically lose their baby teeth earlier than boys.  The last baby teeth will likely fall out by the time your child is 13.
So, which teeth do children lose first?  Baby teeth tend to fall out in the order in which they came, which means the lower center incisors are usually the first to go when your child is between six and seven years old.  The next teeth your child will lose are his or her top center pair, also called the upper central incisors.

It’s important to note that if a child loses a baby tooth early as a result of decay or an unforeseen accident, his or her permanent tooth may erupt early and potentially come in crooked due to limited space.  If your child suffers an injury or has tooth decay, we encourage you to give us a call to set up an appointment with Dr. Abel or Dr. Turturro.  There are steps we can take to protect the permanent tooth and maintain space for it if the baby tooth is lost prematurely.

While we know some children couldn’t be more excited to lose their baby teeth, we know others are anxious about this childhood milestone. When your child starts to lose teeth, our team at Westchester Dental Care encourages you to stress the importance of proper oral hygiene on a daily basis.

Remember to:

• Remind your child to brush his or her teeth at least twice a day. Supervise and offer assistance as needed.

• Help your child floss his or her teeth at bedtime.

• Limit eating and drinking between meals and at bedtime, especially sugary treats and drinks, such as candy and soda.

• Schedule regular dental visits for your child at least every six months.

• Ask us about the use of fluoride treatments and dental sealants to help prevent tooth decay.

To learn more about your child's teeth, or to schedule your child’s next visit with Dr. Abel,
Dr. Turturro, and our team at Westchester Dental Care, our Mount Kisco NY Dental Office,
please give us a call today at:  (914) 241-2242.

www.WestchesterTopDentist.com