Pediatric Dentistry in Portsmouth NH

Dental health begins the moment your baby is born. Anytime your child eats or drinks, it is recommended that you clean their gums with a warm, damp washcloth. Once they begin teething, you can shift to using a baby toothbrush to clean teeth and gums.

It is important that you use a baby toothbrush, with soft bristles, and be gentle while brushing their teeth. Once teething begins, schedule their initial appointment with our team.

The common answer to this question is once a baby begins teething, or once they’ve 6 months old. Our dentist will examine your baby’s teeth to make sure they are coming in properly, that there are no early signs of decay, and make thoughtful recommendations on the best care for your baby’s teeth. In some instances, a fluoride treatment is recommended at their first visit.

While a first appointment is short and to the point, it is nonetheless a very important first step to a healthy, happy smile. Pediatric dental visits seek out warning signs of potential dental concerns, provide a gentle cleaning, and answer any questions or concerns you may have.

It is recommended that once your child has had their first appointment, that they continue with routine check ups twice a year. Routine care is preventative care, and decreases the risk of future dental issues and costly dental procedures. It also is important in creating healthy habits. With each visit your hygienist and dentist evaluate your child’s brushing and flossing technique, overall teeth development, providing them their best chance at a healthy smile.

It is best practice to begin using toothpaste once your baby has had multiple teeth develop along their gum line. With children and toothpaste, less is more. Only using a small amount, like a smear, for each cleaning. As your child ages, a pea sized amount is sufficient.

Dental X-Rays provide a lot of value for patients of all ages, but especially for children. X-Rays allow dentists to track tooth development, as well as spot signs of cavities or decay that sometimes are undetectable to the eye alone.

One of the best ways to encourage your children to develop good habits is by modeling good habits and engaging in dental hygiene with them. Positive reinforcement, and acknowledging their effort, is another great way to keep them brushing and flossing. Allowing children choices that make brushing fun, like picking their toothbrush, a flavored toothpaste, or using an app like Brush DJ are all great ways to encourage regular dental care.

Thumb sucking is a habit that most children will naturally outgrow with age. It is reassuring to know that thumb sucking will likely not lead to big issues with their dental development. However, if you have concerns, your dentist is happy to speak with your child during their visit.