All West Dental

Children should begin to see the dentist within 6 months of the appearance of the first tooth or by one year of age. In most cases, a checkup every six months will let your child’s dentist catch small problems early on.

A child’s first teeth are important for a child to learn how to eat and speak properly. Having good teeth is also important for a child’s self image. Healthy baby teeth and gums ensure a healthy spot for the child’s permanent teeth.

Make the first visit fun. Consider reading a related book such as 'Just going to the Dentist' by Mercer Mayer, 'Barney goes to the Dentist' by Linda Cress Dowdy, or 'Show me your smile: A visit to the Dentist (Dora the Explorer)' by Christine Ricci. The staff also uses tricks and lingo to make the visit fun.

Regular dental visits help you find out if the cleaning your child is doing at home is working. The dentist can find problems right away and fix them. Your child will learn that going to the dentist helps prevent problems and keeps them healthy.

Sometimes, there are occasions when your child’s dentist may want to take x-rays. X-rays are a diagnostic tool used to see if there is decay between the teeth. It will also show if teeth are coming the way they should.

Young children are not able to clean their own teeth properly. As a parent, you must do it for them when they are very young, and do it with them as they get older. When your child can write (not print) his or her name, your child is ready to do a good job brushing their own teeth.

The best kind of brush is soft, with rounded bristles. It should be the right size for your child’s mouth. Every 3-4 months you should change your child’s toothbrush.

Use only a bit of toothpaste, about the size of a pea, and make sure your child spits it out.

Brushing at bedtime is very important. Germs and sugars that cause cavities have all night to cause damage when left untouched. When your child sleeps, he or she does not produce as much saliva, which helps keep the mouth clean.

Fluoride has been a hot button topic as cities debate its necessity in drinking water. The site provides links to information to help you make an informed decision about fluoride for you or your family.

X-rays are taken to see things that cannot be seen by the naked eye, such as roots, areas between teeth, bone loss, cysts, and growths. They help determine overall health, not just oral health.

A dental exam is much more than a check-up. It allows your dentist to determine the health of your teeth and gums, as well as your overall health, and identify risk factors for optimal treatment.

Your hygienist determines a frequency of treatment based on your periodontal needs. Regular visits help detect issues early and prevent serious health risks like heart attack, stroke, and respiratory disease.