Children’s Dentistry
At Inspired Dentistry we are very pleased to provide comprehensive dental services for every member of the family. We enjoy welcoming younger patients to our practice with the aim of making their visit a relaxed, fun and educational one.
Figures show that tooth decay in the under 15’s has dropped in recent years- which is great news. However, according to the 2013 Children’s Dental Health Survey up to half of 8 year olds and a third or under 5’s have signs of decay in their milk teeth!
By encouraging a positive and regular relationship with the Dentist and educating your child with regard to a healthy diet and good tooth cleaning habits you really will be helping them to build strong, healthy teeth for life.
How to look after young teeth:
- Register your child with us at the earliest opportunity- from birth is advised.
- As soon as milk teeth appear it’s important to get them checked regularly. The best way to do this is to bring your child with you to your own appointments. This will help them to build familiarity with the surgery and staff helping them to feel relaxed.
- Once teeth have started to appear in the mouth it’s important to brush them every day. This will ensure that brushing is considered a normal part of their day in adulthood.
- Remember your child will need supervision when brushing- probably until they are around 8 or 9 years old. This is especially important when the adult teeth start coming through.
- Be aware of your child’s diet. Fruit juice, squash and fizzy drinks all contain lots of sugar which can damage tooth enamel. Instead offer milk or water. Avoid too many sweets and other sugary items!
But I’m scared of the Dentist myself!
If you are scared about visiting the Dentist it’s really important to try not to pass this fear onto your child.
- Consider booking an early morning appointment so you don’t have to worry about it all day- and your child isn’t too tired when they arrive.
- If you really can’t go into the surgery with them perhaps bring a friend or family member who could- so you can wait in the waiting room. If they see you panicked or upset they are likely to feel the same way.