When caring for your children’s teeth, prevention is the best approach to good oral health. Developing a regular routine – to the point where it becomes habit – is the surest way to ensure lifelong oral health.
Establishing Good Oral Hygiene Practices
As an adult, you already understand the basics of oral health, such as brushing twice per day, flossing daily, and visiting your Ankeny dentist every six months. The same rules apply to your child, but it is up to you to get them started by establishing an oral care regimen for them.
A good oral care program requires diligence and helping your child associate regular dental care with the normal routine of day-to-day life. You must also lead by example. Brush and floss with your child. This benefits the whole family, and you can make it a fun activity, as opposed to a dreaded requirement.
Your Child’s First Visit
You may be wondering when you should bring your child in for their first visit. As soon as the first tooth appears, you can schedule an appointment (usually in the child’s first six to eight months). Of equal importance is a visit to the dentist if teeth have not appeared by the end of your child’s first year.
Here at Peddicord Family Dentistry, we are committed to patient education and we will be glad to help you develop a sound oral care program for your child. Because we are a family practice, we provide dental care to everyone in your home, with a full range of preventive, cosmetic, and restorative services. Contact your Ankeny dentist office to make your child’s first appointment. We serve patients in Ankeny, Cambridge, Sheldall, Maxwell, Collins, and surrounding communities.