Pediatric Dental Care
Tigard, OR
 Our team at Tigard Family Dental wants to help you start your child’s dental health off right. Caring for your child’s teeth begins before they are even born. Nutrients, through a proper diet, starts your small fetus on the track to developing healthy teeth. Our doctors encourage our expectant mothers to maintain healthy teeth and gums before, during, and after their pregnancy for both the health of the mother and the health of their developing fetus.
Caring for my babies gums before their teeth erupt
Some of our patients may be unaware that they can help protect their babies teeth before their initial dental exam and even before the teeth have even come in. Part of your child’s oral health care is creating habits and comfortable situations. If parents begin a routine of daily taking a washcloth and very gently wiping their baby’s gums, this will develop two important skills:
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A daily habit of cleaning teeth. |
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Assisting your child in getting used to having their teeth cleaned. |
When do I take my child to the dentist?
We want to develop a good working relationship with your child. Their comfort is very important in doing this. We have found that coming young and often is a great way to get them used to being in a dentist chair. We take the time to approach your child gently, showing them dental tools, and talk with both the child and the parent on the importance of proper oral hygiene. Bringing your child for their first dental visit between the ages of two and three will help us foster that relationship.
Tips for Home
There are things that parents can do to assist your child in having good oral health habits. We ask that parents:
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Avoid sugary food items. Contrary to some parenting tips, babies do not need apple juice, or any other juice. We definitely do not recommend putting a baby to bed with a bottle of juice. This will promote cavities, possibly in teeth that are not even above the gums. |
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Before your child has teeth, take a damp cloth and gently wipe their gums. Once a tooth has erupted, take a gentle brush with the smallest amount of toothpaste and brush their teeth every day. |
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Parents should assist their child in teeth brushing until the age of eight. Children on their own often do not brush long enough or well enough. |
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Flossing is often difficult for children, we recommend purchasing flossing sticks. Handing your child a flossing stick while they watch tv is a great way to get them to floss. |
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Mouth rinses also aid in clearing away debris and bacteria in the mouth. This will need to be given to them with caution. There are child mouthwashes available that will not burn and some bottles are even designed to control the portion given. |
We invite your children to get to know our dentists at Tigard Family Dental and develop a good working relationship along with lifelong dental habits. For more information on our dental practice or to schedule an appointment, contact our front office.
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