Babies and children

When should your new born visit the dentist?
In general, your baby should see a dentist for the first time when their first tooth erupts or once they turn one – whichever comes first. Children usually develop a full set of teeth by the age of three, so the earlier your child visits the dentist the better. Even though your child might have a couple of teeth to begin with, bacteria can still build up around the teeth and contribute to decay, so it is important to begin a preventative dental health plan catered for your child early on. The team at Landale Dental in Box Hill are well-trained in dealing with babies and young children; and we have a Dental Therapist especially for young children and adolescents.

Brushing your baby’s teeth?
It is important to start practicing good oral hygiene as soon as the first tooth erupts. Dental health and its maintenance is ongoing throughout your child’s life and it is important to role model good dental health habits from an early age so your child sees oral hygiene as a normal part of their life.
Prior to teeth erupting, you can begin by wiping your baby’s gums with a soft cloth twice a day. Once teeth start to erupt, then you can start using a soft children’s toothbrush without toothpaste until the age of 18 months. Flossing is still necessary even in young children; the team at Landale Dental in Box Hill can help demonstrate the correct technique catered to you and your child.
It can be difficult to comfort teething children – sometimes a chilled (not frozen) teething ring or dummies can be helpful. It is important NOT to use sweets such as honey or jam on dummies/teething rings as this could lead to dental decay.