Are you looking for a friendly pediatric dentist in Richmond? At Grand Mission Dentistry, Dr. Sung and Dr. Nguyen are expert pediatric dentists. Our team has decades of combined experience working with kids of all ages.
As a leading practice focusing on pediatric dentistry in Richmond, we take a comprehensive approach to oral health. We want to help our patients keep their children happy and healthy, so we’ve come up with a list of common pediatric dental mistakes that you should be sure to avoid:
1. Going To The Dentist Infrequently – Or Too Late
You should make it a point to see a dentist every six months, without fail. This ensures that you will be able to keep track of your child’s oral health and development, and minimize the risk of tooth decay and gum disease. Your child should visit a qualified pediatric dentist like Dr. Sung or Dr. Nguyen as soon as their first tooth erupts, or around their first birthday; whichever comes first.
2. Excessive Consumption of Sugary Drinks And Snacks
You should work to minimize the amount of sugar that your children consume, particularly if they tend to drink a lot of juice. Juice is not necessarily unhealthy, but it has an extremely high concentration of sugar and citric acid, which is harmful to the teeth.
As a rule, minimize sugary drinks and snacks. Consider feeding your child whole fruit instead, and cutting back on the sweet treats. Provide sweets only alongside other meals, make sure they drink plenty of water, and brush their teeth after eating sugar. In the long run, this will be much better for their oral health.
3. Use Of Sippy Cups And Bottles
Bottles and sippy cups can contribute to tooth decay. Because it takes a long time to drink from a sippy cup, this increases the amount of time that your child is exposed to high levels of sugar.
Their saliva won’t be able to wash all of this sugar away, and bacteria will build up on their teeth and gums. Encourage your children to drink these liquids quickly, even if you’re using a bottle or sippy cup, and make sure you brush and clean their teeth afterward.
4. Improper Brushing And Dental Care
As soon as your child’s first tooth erupts, you should begin brushing it with non-fluoride toothpaste, and wiping down their gums with a clean cloth. Switch to a grain-of-rice-sized dab of fluoride toothpaste at age 2, and brush your child’s’ teeth at least twice per day.
You’ll have to brush for your child until they can tie their own shoes, which is usually between the ages of 5-7. After this, keep supervising them, and make sure that they follow the rules set out by our dentists, brushing twice a day for at least two minutes, and flossing once per day.
Do your best to set a good example. Brush with your children, and make it fun. When they see your good dental habits, they will follow your lead and develop healthy, life-long attitudes towards brushing and flossing.
Need Pediatric Dentistry In Grand Mission? Come In Today!
Finding the right pediatric dentist is absolutely essential for keeping your child’s teeth and gums healthy. So come see Dr. Sung or Dr. Nguyen today! Our experienced family dentists can help you understand every aspect of pediatric dental care. Contact us now at (281) 789-8836 to get started, or feel free to come by our office at 8620 Grand Mission Blvd, Suite #E, Richmond, TX 77407 for an in-person consultation.