Tag: west lebanon pediatric dentist

Establishing Healthy Oral Health Habits In Children | West Lebanon NH Pediatric Dentist

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west lebanon kids dentist

Introduce Healthy Habits Early 

It is recommended by the AAPD (American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry) that children should see a dentist by their first birthday or when their first tooth has erupted- whichever occurs first. This will allow your child to establish professional dental care as a part of their optimal oral healthcare routine. Visiting the dentist should be an enjoyable experience for your child. Creating early positive dental experiences can reduce the likelihood of your child suffering from dental phobia (odontophobia) later in life. 

In addition to modeling the importance of professional oral healthcare to your children, it’s important to show proper at-home habits. Brushing and flossing in front of your child will show them it’s a normal, daily activity. Teaching your child about the consequences of inadequate home care can also help to motivate the adoption of healthy oral hygiene habits.

Make Proper Oral Hygiene Habits Fun 

Celebrate the eruption of your child’s new teeth. Take a special trip to the store with your child to pick out their first toothbrush. Get them excited about keeping their teeth healthy. 

Do your best to make brushing fun by playing a special song while your child is brushing. Getting your child to look forward to this time together can make this seemingly mundane task into a celebrated daily activity. 

If brushing is simply not fun for your child, consider rewarding or celebrating your child for partaking in the behaviors that contribute to a healthy lifestyle. If your child is motivated by stickers or points on a rewards chart, be sure to include brushing as one of the good deeds celebrated. 

Establishing healthy oral health habits in children is vital to their overall health. Whether at-home care is a game, special time together or a chore to check off the list, make sure your child is receiving proper oral hygiene care at home from a young age to prevent further intervention later.

Welcome to Our Pediatric Dental Office

If you’d like to meet our team for an enjoyable pediatric dental experience for your child, contact Upper Valley Pediatric Dentistry of West Lebanon today to schedule an appointment. We’re confident you and your child will love our compassionate, fun environment. 

Upper Valley Pediatric Dentistry of West Lebanon
Phone: (603) 790-8130
30 Airport Rd. Suite 7
West Lebanon, NH 03784

Should My Child’s Permanent Teeth Be Coming in Yet? | West Lebanon NH Pediatric Dentist

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west Lebanon Pediatric Dentist

Losing baby teeth is a significant rite of passage for young children, and it can be exciting for kids with hopes that the tooth fairy pays them a visit. But this rite of passage is important for parents, too. As a pediatric dental office, one of the common questions we hear from parents is regarding the proper timing for permanent teeth to fully appear. While every child is different, the average timeframe for an adult tooth to replace a baby tooth is about 6 months. In some instances this timeframe can be longer, for a number of reasons. Learn more about a few of the more common reasons some teeth take more time to come in.     

  • Teeth Spacing: Occasionally, baby teeth can come in too close together. Close spacing can cause issues when a baby tooth is lost and the new tooth is coming in. There may not be enough space for the new tooth to properly grow in. When this happens, the tooth may take longer to come in.  
  • Impacted Teeth: An impacted tooth is normally caused when a baby tooth is lost prematurely, such as a tooth being knocked out. The emerging tooth can get lodged inside the bone, preventing it from emerging. This can also happen with a tooth that is partially exposed, creating a partially impacted tooth. 
  • Incorrect Growth: Children’s teeth, more commonly than not, have a non-uniform appearance. In some instances, baby teeth can be misplaced which causes the adult teeth to come down in the wrong location. 

Sometimes new teeth struggle to erupt with no apparent cause. If you feel your child may be experiencing one of these permanent teeth growth issues, consult our pediatric dentist. We can determine if there is a cause and take the correct steps to start to improve the situation. If there is an issue with adult tooth eruption, the sooner it’s addressed the better. 

It’s important to regularly schedule dental cleanings and examinations for your children. During these visits with our West Lebanon pediatric dentist, we’ll monitor your child’s smile as it continues to transition. This allows our dentist to be more interceptive with any issues that may arise, making any treatments easier to manage as your child continues to grow. If you have any questions or want to schedule an appointment, contact Upper Valley Pediatric Dentistry of West Lebanon today.

Upper Valley Pediatric Dentistry of West Lebanon
Phone: (603) 790-8130
30 Airport Rd. Suite 7
West Lebanon, NH 03784