About Your Child’s Visit
About Your Child’s Dental Care
Tips to a healthy smile
When should my child visit the dentist for the first time?
The American Academy of Pediatric Dentists recommend a child find a “dental home” by the time he reaches the age of one . While your baby may only have a few teeth at this time, a simple checkup for decay and development is advised. In addition, visiting the dentist early will help deter common misconceptions and unfamiliarity that can contribute to anxiety, stress, and tears! If your child is younger than one year old and you have a dental concern, please call us at 972-727-0737 for an appointment.
Can I go into the treatment room with my child?
We encourage parents to be with their children for the first cleaning/examination visit. This will assure your children of a "safe" and friendly environment for their first appointment, and the parent can view our office to observe how the staff performs. For future visits, the patients usually prefer to come to the treatment area on their own. Experience has shown that most children cooperate much better when they are treated as "BIG KIDS." If the patient continues to be apprehensive without a parent present, we have special areas for our parents to accompany their children. Our goal is to help your child be as comfortable as possible. back to top
What if my child cries? What will you do?
Some children cry when separated from their parents, particularly in a new environment. Allow our professionals to work their magic with your child! Once your child understands that we’re friendly and we keep them comfortable, they’ll become one of our “regulars”, who can’t wait to come back!
Do you condone fluoride and sealants for kids?
Yes. In safe amounts, fluoride strengthens teeth and deters tooth decay by attracting other helpful minerals. Dental sealants, a clear protective coating painted on back teeth, create a barrier against the sugars and starches that cause dental caries.
What steps can I take to reduce my child’s potential for cavities?
Diet: Make sure that your child does not go to bed with anything except water in his or her bottle. Older children should drink plenty of water, as well, and you must limit their sugary beverages. Energy drinks packed with sugar, erosive juices, and colas contribute to cavities, as well as acid erosion. Crunchy fruits and veggies will help clean your children’s teeth and contribute minerals and vitamins essential for overall health. After your child eats, he should always rinse his mouth with water or brush his teeth.
Oral healthcare at home: You child should brush her teeth twice a day, morning and night, with an ADA-approved toothpaste. Young children need parents to assist with brushing so that the teeth, tongue, and soft oral tissues are cleaned properly. Children should floss once a day. Our hygienist may also recommend a fluoride-rich mouth rinse.
Regular checkups and cleanings: Twice each year, and more often if instructed.
Dental sealants: These protective coverings are applied to back teeth as a barrier against the sugars and starches that cause tooth decay. Children should have sealants on their permanent molars.
Fluoride: This naturally occurring mineral has the unique ability to attract other good minerals. This characteristic makes fluoride a potent preventive measure for preventing tooth decay. In appropriate doses, fluoride can significantly strengthen teeth.
Do you recommend wisdom tooth removal for children?
Yes. Wisdom teeth, or third molars, are not essential to a fully functional and healthy mouth. Furthermore, they sit so far back in the mouth that cleaning is difficult so it is common for cavities to form in wisdom teeth. They may also become impacted before eruption and cause teeth to shift and crowd (which alters the bite), or cause nagging pain as they erupt. The earlier a person has wisdom teeth removed, the less problems they will experience from them.
What if my child has a dental emergency?
If your child has a dental emergency after office hours, please call our Allen dental office at 972-727-0737. You will be given options to activate our emergency number. A staff person or doctor is available to answer your calls 24 hours a day, seven days a week!
During your child’s checkup, the dentist will assess occlusion and look for developmental problems. Dr. Gough or Dr. Hunter will let you know if orthodontic therapy is indicated.
What should I expect after my child’s dental procedure?
We will tell you what to expect, and you will also be given postoperative instructions. Many factors contribute to how your child will respond after dental treatment, so we’ll consult with you before you leave the office. If you have cause for concern or questions, don’t hesitate to call us at 972-727-0737.
What kind of toothpaste should my child use?
Dr. Gough and Dr. Hunter recommend children use age-appropriate toothpaste with the ADA seal of approval. At your child’s checkup and cleaning, our hygienist will talk with you about the correct toothbrush, toothpaste, and mouth rinse for your child.
Anyone with teeth should floss! Flossing removes plaque before it hardens into tartar, and it loosens food particles lodged between teeth. Young children, and some adolescents, have trouble flossing. The task can be cumbersome unless you’re properly trained. Our hygienist will show you and your child how to effectively and efficiently floss.
How can I stop my child’s thumb or pacifier-sucking habit?
Sucking is a natural instinct in babies. However, children who suck their thumbs or a pacifier after teeth erupt can experience developmental dental problems. Dr. Gough and Dr. Hunter recommend:
How can I teach my child to brush his/her teeth properly?
Start early! When your child is an infant, gently wipe her mouth and gums with a cloth or gauze. Once teeth erupt, use a baby toothbrush or cotton swab, but no toothpaste. Your child will be accustomed to having her mouth cleaned since you’ve been doing it since her birth. Once your child is two years, a small dot of children’s toothpaste can be used during brushing. You will need to brush your child’s teeth until she is about 7-8 years.
Once your child has the dexterity to handle the brushing motion and effectively clean her own teeth, you can play a game. If she brushes half of her teeth, you’ll brush the rest. Continue this until you see that she is doing a good job. She will see how you brush effectively and learn how to do it herself. Floss your child’s teeth once daily. You may need to continue flossing her teeth longer than you must brush them, because flossing can be a more difficult task to learn.
If you have any questions about brushing, flossing, or children’s dental products, please ask the hygienist.
What if my child hates brushing and flossing?
If you can determine why your child dislikes taking care of his teeth, the problem may have an obvious solution. Some children don’t like the taste of their toothpaste. Many flavors and brands are available, so try another one. The size of the toothbrush should be appropriate, as well. A brush that’s too large can hurt a child’s mouth and be difficult to maneuver.
You may also want to play games with your child. Sing a song, like “This is the Way we Brush Our Teeth,” to the tune of “The Wheels on the Bus.” You may also want to count to 20 in a foreign language or recite the alphabet during brushing.
For boys, pretending that brushing teeth battles the “bad guys” can be effective. Girls may prefer the approach that princesses keep their smiles bright and shiny like diamonds. School-aged kids may prefer an electric toothbrush, and our hygienist will be happy to recommend one for you.
If your child doesn’t brush long enough, consider setting a one-minute timer or using a sand timer as an incentive. A brushing chart with stickers for each tooth brushing session can also be incentive enough to make a child get in the habit.
If none of these tricks work, ask Dr. Gough, Dr. Hunter, or your hygienist for tips at your child’s checkup.
In what order do teeth develop in babies?
At about six months, babies’ first teeth erupt - the lower central incisors. Next, the upper central incisors (front teeth) erupt. By age three, most children have all 20 primary teeth. The order in which teeth erupt varies. At about age six, molars and permanent teeth begin to surface. By age 21, your child should have all 25 – 32 permanent teeth.