Pediatric Dentistry in Monroe, WA
Children are welcome at Sky Valley Dental and are a valued part of our patient base. We understand that children have unique needs when it comes to dentistry that are very different from adults. Dr. Cho’s friendly and fun demeanor puts little ones at ease and helps them feel right at home when they visit our Monroe dental office.
These positive first encounters with their dentist are essential for helping them build good dental habits, monitoring their oral development, and setting them up for success in future visits to the dentist.
Child's First Dental Visit
Along with the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry (AAPD), Dr. Cho recommends that your son or daughter’s first visit to the dentist should be around age one. At this point, their baby teeth are arriving, and they can have an examination.
As they get older and feel more comfortable at their Monroe dentist, we’ll incorporate teeth cleanings, and eventually fluoride treatments and dental sealants to help build and protect their precious smile.
Home Care for Your Little One
Tooth care should begin before your baby’s first tooth even arrives. Using a warm washcloth, wipe down their gums after feedings to remove any excess bacteria left in their mouth. This also gets them acclimated to caring for their gums and eventually their teeth.
Begin brushing their baby teeth as soon as they arrive with a small, soft-bristled brush. It is up to you whether you’d like to incorporate toothpaste that is safe to swallow at this point.
Around the age of two and three, they can begin experimenting with brushing on their own with you following up to ensure plaque and bacteria are successfully being removed. Once they can spit, you can add a toothpaste that is fortified with fluoride.
Most children can brush and floss independently on their own around the age of or seven or eight years old. However, it is still a good idea for parents to check in from time to time to ensure successful brushing and flossing.
Additional Recommendations for Children
While your child may be getting small doses of fluoride from their toothpaste or drinking water, we often recommend boosting their fluoride protection with a treatment that is incorporated with their teeth cleaning.
We also typically recommend dental sealants, which are a coating placed over the surfaces of back teeth to fill in the pits and grooves that can house bacteria and plaque and cause tooth decay. Sealants are a quick, non-invasive procedure that offers excellent protection against tooth decay and cavities.
Schedule Your Child’s Next Dental Visit at Our Monroe Office
At Sky Valley Dental, Dr. Cho makes it convenient and straightforward for the entire family to get their dental care at our Monroe dental office. We look forward to meeting your son or daughter!
Child's First Dental Visit
