Generally, we recommend that you start having your child attend regular dental checkups by the time their first tooth emerges or by the time they turn one year old. Not only do these visits help your son or daughter get acclimated to the dental office from an early age, but they also let our team monitor their oral health and identify any potential issues in their beginning stages. As your child’s smile grows, we’ll gradually add cleanings and at-home oral care advice to these checkups.

Fluoride can benefit smiles of all ages, but it’s particularly crucial for children because of their increased risk of tooth decay. Regular exposure to fluoride works to fortify the primary teeth, which aids in the development of their permanent teeth. It also strengthens tooth enamel, making it less likely that cavities will occur. We usually provide topical fluoride treatments after your child’s routine cleaning, but we may recommend more frequent applications if we believe they would be beneficial.

Being active is great for your child’s physical and mental health, but that won’t be the case if an injury breaks or knocks out their teeth. If your child plays basketball, hockey, football, or any other sport with the risk of impact to the face, it’s essential that they wear an athletic mouthguard to protect against oral injuries. Unlike the mass-produced mouthguards from the sporting goods store, the custom guards provided by our dentists are more effective and comfortable, so they’ll keep your little one’s smile safer.