Kids Health Watch is brought to you by our friends and Children’s Medical Group
Teething and the introduction of a dental hygiene routine in young children can be an anxiety-inducing prospect, but this need not be the case. Let’s start with the basics.
Teething symptoms and timing in young children vary widely. Some children start teething as young as 2-3 months, while others don’t start as late as two years of age. It can be difficult to pinpoint if your baby is teething, as symptoms like drooling and gnawing on hands or objects can mimic other developmental milestones. However, common teething symptoms can be fussiness, low-grade fever, drooling, and difficulty sleeping.
Pediatricians typically recommend a first visit to your child’s dentist starting at around one year of age but no later than 2-3 years. You might fear that such an early visit to the dentist will be a fruitless endeavor, but there are several reasons to try as early as you can.
First, don’t let your child’s first trip to the dentist be because of an injury. Working on teeth requires a lot of patience and cooperation from your child, so the first few visits to the dentist should be (relatively) pleasant experiences. This way, if an injury does happen, your child is at least familiar with the process and environment.
Second, if your child’s dentist can complete a thorough exam (good behavior permitting), they can give you some good anticipatory guidance on caring for your child’s teeth. This will likely include limiting juice, eliminating bottles after a year of age, and brushing.
When brushing your child’s teeth, the goal is not necessarily about cleaning the teeth – at least not at first. You’re mostly attempting to introduce a toothbrush to your child’s routine. Initially, they will likely resist this, and most kids will probably want much more independence with the task than you might prefer. Stick with it! You’ll want to try to help start some healthy habits at a young age. You should also brush with fluorinated toothpaste (not non-fluorinated training toothpaste), which is extremely important for the healthy development of your child’s teeth. Finally, your pediatrician or dentist can guide you regarding safe amounts of toothpaste for your child’s age and pointers on appropriate brushing techniques.
Author: Savannah Browning
Dr. Savannah Browning grew up in Fayette, AL. She moved to Mobile to attend Medical School at the University of South Alabama in 2009, and has been a proud Mobilian ever since. She joined Children’s Medical Group in 2016, and her office is at the Airport Boulevard location. She lives in Mobile with her husband, Andrew, and their three children: Jude, Luke, and Annie.
