Routine Care

Good oral health relies on healthy routines. By establishing these healthy routines, you can lower your risk for dental problems.

Children and Pre-teens

By age three or four, infants and toddlers should have seen a pediatric dentist several times, and all of their baby (primary) teeth should have come in. More changes follow as your child progresses through ages 3-12. Baby teeth start falling out, and adult (permanent) teeth begin to take their place around age six. By age 13, most permanent teeth have erupted. All the while, your child's jawbones are developing and changing.

Throughout this same period, your child is learning to take more responsibility for themselves. It's important not only to teach your child proper oral health habits from an early age but to ensure your child is following through every single day. While many things are best learned through failure, oral health is not one of them. Once decay or periodontal disease sets in, your child will suffer the consequences for a lifetime. So it's best to help them get it right from the start.

Care at home

Young children and older children have differing needs, but some oral health habits are necessary at any age.

Care at the dentist

It is important your child becomes and remains comfortable with visits to the dentist. This is a great way to help ensure a lifetime of good oral health habits.

During a regular dental visit for your child, you can expect the dentist or hygienist to:

Other considerations

Personal choices

As your child nears their teen years, they may become curious about certain behaviors or appearances. You and your child's dentist need to explain the oral health risks associated with:

Medication

Sports or activities

Certain sports and recreational activities, especially those that involve physical contact, involve oral health risks. The most important thing you can do for your child is to ensure they wear a properly fitted mouthguard, face mask, or cage. Talk to their dentist about the best protection based on their activities.

Sleep apnea

Up to 4% of children between ages two and eight have sleep apnea,1, which significantly increases your child's oral health risks, primarily from dry mouth. They are typically the result of enlarged tonsils or adenoids that constrict the airway. Research has shown that children with sleep disorders were three times more likely to develop tooth decay and deeper gum pockets that can lead to periodontal disease. They also had more tooth sensitivity or pain, gum bleeding, and mouth sores than children without sleep apnea.2 Children with sleep disorders may also develop a habit of positioning their tongues forward in their mouths, causing the upper front teeth to tip outward. This can result in the need for orthodontic treatment and may also affect their speech development.

Vaping and e-cigarettes

Vaping devices and e-cigarettes can be just as harmful to oral tissue and lungs as regular cigarettes, and their use has risen dramatically. In fact, vaping use increased from 0.6% to 10.5% among U.S. middle school students between 2011 and 2018.3 If you suspect your child may be using tobacco or vaping products, tell their dentist so they can support your efforts to explain the dangers of continued use.

Author: Fluent staff
Last updated: 1/11/2022Medical review: Thomas J. Greany DDS, 5/15/2021
© P&R Dental Strategies, LLC D/B/A Fluent. All rights reserved.

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