The New Year is a Great Time to Schedule a Free Infant Dental Exam

Oral health is one of the best gifts you can give your child. It starts when they are small when just the first tooth buds are emerging. How caregivers approach oral health care with their children determines oral wellness well into the future.  Scheduling an in-office dental exam and cleaning at Li’l Sunshine Smiles can ensure that your child’s oral health is intact now and in the years to come.

Cleaning Infant’s Teeth

Even before an infant have teeth, there is a benefit to cleaning the gums twice a day.  Clean gums in the morning after the first feeding and before bedtime to 1) remove bacteria from developing areas; and 2) establish an oral healthcare routine.

Then, after teeth buds emerge, start adding  an infant toothbrush (softer, smaller bristles) and water to your routine.  Gently clean the tooth/gum surfaces around the the tooth bud to help protect the tooth from bacteria.

Gum brushes–they look like small rubbery attachments that you place over one of your fingers–are a great tool for keeping gums and emerging teeth clean easily.

Starting an oral care process at the infant age helps your child adjust early to having teeth brushed. This helps parents avoid the oral hygiene struggle as they develop.

42 Percent of Children from Birth – Age Six Have Cavities

Early childhood tooth decay is a REAL issue in our country. Far too many children from birth to age six have cavities–42 percent!

Learning the process for cleaning  infant and toddler teeth can help prevent cavities in your infants. Help them avoid the pain and problems tooth decay can create with dedicated care. Our Li’l Sunshine Dentistry team is here to support and help you along the way. Never hesitate to give us a call if you have a question or concern about your child’s oral health.

Baby teeth that decay and fall out before they are ready can affect the permanent teeth. If a tooth is lost too soon, an adult tooth might shift into the wrong place and come into the mouth where it’s not supposed to. This can create major orthodontic and dental issues for a child in the future. Reduce your stress by simply taking your infant in for infant dental exams while they are young.

Take Advantage of a Free Infant Dental Exam

We feel strongly about fighting early childhood tooth decay so at our office, we offer free infant dental exams. Proper oral hygiene starts when children are babies.  Excellent oral health when children are young means better oral health when children are adults. better child and adult oral health.

If you are concerned about how an infant dental exam will go, here are some helpful things to know:

1. Initially, infants remain in their parent’s arms while they have their mouth examined by the Dr. Cat.
2. Infant dental exams are done in  a “knee-to-knee” position with Dr. Cat and the parent
3. Dr. Cat will look for tooth decay and show you how to properly clean and care for the infant’s mouth

Dr. Cat’s years of experience treating children put them right at ease. Her ease is there ease.

We Work Together to Prevent Cavities

Let’s face it, preventing cavities is so much easier than treating cavities. It is our mission to work with our patients and parents to keep your child’s mouth healthy from birth to adulthood!  Children will be more comfortable in our dental home for future dental visits by starting their oral wellness journey when they are infants.  Establishing positive connections between dental treatment and visits is essential for success with oral health now and in years to come.

Children that have infant dental exams and frequent visits biannually after, have a reduced risk of developing dental phobias. Let’s work together to keep them healthy and happy! Call us at 813-576-0200 today to schedule an infant dental exam today!