At Bayou Dental Group, Dr. Finley and Dr. Henderson enjoy treating children. They focus on preventive care and helping you understand how to maintain good oral hygiene for your kids at home.
Your Child’s First Dental Visit
Preparation
Dr. Finley and Dr. Henderson encourage parents to bring their children with them when they come to our office. It helps your child become familiar with our office and staff and look forward to their first visit. You can find books to read to your children or animated videos to show them about kids who have positive dental visits.
What to expect
Dental exams for preventive care should start early. When your child is two years old, we want to examine his or her teeth and gums to ensure they are healthy. As you sit in the dental chair and hold your child on your lap, you can expect a fun and relaxed visit. We use language that’s easy for children to understand. We will explain what we are doing and why, as well as which dental tool we’ll use next.
Dr. Finley or Dr. Henderson will do the following:
- Examine your child’s teeth to ensure they are healthy and erupting and developing correctly.
- Examine his or her gums and oral cavities for any issues.
- Discuss brushing techniques with you.
- Look for signs of oral health habits (e.g., thumb sucking) that will affect tooth development.
Practice Good Oral Hygiene at Home
With proper oral hygiene, tooth decay is preventable. Practice healthy habits at home.
- When your child’s first tooth erupts, clean it with a soft cloth.
- Regularly let your child see how you floss and brush your teeth.
- As more of your child’s teeth erupt, brush them, and floss between them.
- When your child is old enough to hold a toothbrush, let him or her practice brushing. You can follow up with thorough brushing.
- As your child gets older, you can supervise brushing and flossing.
- Download a toothbrushing app, hum, play music, or have a contest to make brushing fun and to ensure your child’s teeth are brushed for two minutes twice a day.
- Provide snacks no more than three times a day. And limit sugary snacks and drinks, including juice. Encourage your child to drink plenty of water.
Remember to schedule dental cleaning and exam appointments for your child every six months. Dr. Finley and Dr. Henderson can detect cavities in their early stages and use air abrasion technology to remove the decay gently.
