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Is It Too Early to Take My Child to the Dentist?

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The average recommendation is to make the appointment for when the child is 6 months to 1-year-old.

A visit to the dentist generally isn’t anyone’s favorite way to pass the time. And if you think of a restless toddler who puts on a tantrum just because his socks are blue, going to the dentist’s office may seem like an impossible mission. Plus, is it really needed? Their baby teeth are sparkling clean and they will be replaced soon anyway. Why bother with a possibly traumatic experience like that?

child at the dentist

The following might change your mind about oral health education or reinforce what you already planned about it.

The vast majority of dentists in America agree that the first visit to the dentist should be done early, some even expecting the child into the cabinet when the very first tooth appears. The average recommendation is to make the appointment for when the child is 6 months to 1 year old.

What Happens on the First Visit?

The very first visit you make to your St. Louis pediatric dentist’s office is more about getting the child used to the environment, having them acquainted with the doctor and reinforce the oral hygiene lessons you’ve been practicing at home. The dentist will gently introduce your child to the medical equipment, let him get comfy on the chair and talk to both of you.

The first visit is meant to get the child relaxed in this environment and to inform the parent about the correct way of cleaning the child’s teeth, how to encourage cooperation and what to be on the lookout for.

Some dentists, if all goes well, can perform a gentle cleanse and get rid of plaque and other deposits on the teeth. That is a great way of teaching the child that they will not be hurt when on the dentist’s chair and that oral health is extremely important.

How to Make the First Visit Successful

Your approach prior to the first visit depends a lot on the child’s age. An older child – 3 or 4 years old – can understand simple explanations about the importance of oral health and clean teeth. A one-year-old won’t be so easy to reason with, right? But don’t worry, there are other tricks to make them excited about going to the dentist.

Get them toy dentist utensils and have their dolls and teddies get some routine “dental procedures”. Bring their favorite toys to the cabinet and let them participate. Older siblings can also be of great help in this situations, showing their little brother or sister that they are calm and comfortable. Rewarding good behavior at the dentist is also a good idea.

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St. Louis Pediatric Dentist

Most importantly, if you are calm and positive about their first visit to your St. Louis pediatric dentist, your child will handle the event much better. Here’s to healthy teeth!

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How to Make Your Kid’s Visit to the Dentist as Stress-Free as Possible

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Your child’s oral health is very important and a good start will impact the rest of their lives.

Taking your child to the dentist as early as possible is a very important step in educating them about good oral hygiene. However, for many parents it seems like a stressful event, especially if the child is very young or if the parent himself has some trouble coping with dentist visits.

If you want to eliminate the stress associated with the dentist visit for your child, take your time to prepare with a few tips and tricks.

st. louis child at dentist

Visit the Dentist as Early as Possible

The best start to smooth dentist visits with your child is to let them get familiar with this situation as early as possible. If possible, try to make the first dentist visit while your child is still a toddler. It’s not too early, as some parents think, because it’s more about getting them used to the setting than getting actual procedures done.

Make the Visits Fun and Take It Slowly

If you start early and go to routine checks instead of waiting for the first problem to visit your St. Louis pediatric dentist, you don’t have to rush the appointment. You can take it slowly and let them explore the cabinet and the equipment, take the time to meet and get comfortable with the staff and realize that it is a safe zone. Most dentists will be very understanding of these courtesy visits.

Read Books about Going to the Dentist

Books are always a good aid in getting the kids familiar with certain aspects of life. Fortunately, there are plenty of about going to the dentist that will sparkle your child’s interest and set the correct expectations about the visit. It is important that you also project a positive image of the dentist and avoid saying words like “pain” or “hurt”.  

Play with Your Child and Pretend You Are at the Dentist

Another great way of learning what to expect is to play pretend dentist. You can take turns to be the dentist or the patient and use toys that look similar to the dentist’s instruments. There are plenty of dentist toys you can use to make the idea of going for a check-up fun and interesting.

Let Them Take a Comfort Item with Them

This might work better for younger children, but it is worth trying with older kids too if they feel a little anxious about going to the dentist. Take a toy or item that makes them feel comfortable, but avoid bringing them if they are too big and may interfere with the doctor’s work.

Stay With Them and Talk to Them

Most importantly, your presence should be calming and reassuring. Stay with them and make sure they can see you or hear you at any point of the procedure. Talk to them and the dentist and try to be cheery, calm and positive.

Your child will eventually get used to going to the dentist if you are persistent. Their oral health is very important and a good start will impact the rest of their lives.

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St. Louis Pediatric Dentist


At The Dental Anesthesia Center, your child’s initial oral examination will include a visual examination, charting, diagnosis and treatment recommendations. We work hard to make your child feel at ease by providing exceptional patient care in a relaxed, convenient atmosphere. Depending on your child’s circumstances, we will discuss if sedation or anesthesia is right for your child.


Call us today to schedule your appointment at (314) 862-7844. We look forward to meeting you!

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3 Simple Ways to Protect Your Child’s Tooth Enamel

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Prevent a number of potential oral health problems by protecting your child’s tooth enamel.

Tooth enamel is the most important line of defense for our teeth. Erosion can weaken and expose them to decay and other problems. Oral hygiene is paramount for our children as it can impact not only the appearance of their teeth but their health and alignment as well. So, creating good dental habits from an early age will benefit them in the long term, even if their pearly whites are only temporary for now.

st. louis girl brushing her teeth

If their baby teeth begin to show signs of oral disease, it is crucial to get treatment right away. Some parents think that it is better to avoid putting their children through scary dentist treatments since their teeth will be replaced anyway. However, the health of baby teeth will influence the health of permanent teeth. Plus, it’s essential to get children used to the dental office and be comfortable when they get their regular check-ups with their St. Louis pediatric dentist.

Of course, the ideal approach to oral health is to prevent problems, since the dental tissue doesn’t regenerate like other parts of our body do.

Let’s see what you can do to protect your child’s enamel and prevent a large number of potential oral health problems.

Brush and Floss at Least Twice a Day

Focus on creating a good habit in your child’s daily routine by getting them used to brushing their teeth and flossing every day, at least in the morning and evening.

Start cleaning their teeth the moment the very first tooth erupts and clean them with a cloth or a silicone brush for babies. As their teeth emerge from the gums and they can better hold and use the brush, you can let them brush themselves. You should generally brush their teeth yourself up until they are around three years old to make sure it’s done correctly.

You can also introduce them early to the dental clinic and have a St. Louis pediatrist dentist chat with them and explain with patience and empathy how treatment will be administered and what preventive measures they should take.

Rinse with Water after Every Meal and Snack

An excellent habit that you can include in your child’s hygiene routine is rinsing their mouth with water after every meal they have.

Doing this straightforward thing will efficiently prevent enamel erosion by flushing away acids and food debris that could damage the teeth if it lingers in the mouth for too long. It is also quick and simple to do, so your child will be less likely to protest.

Avoid Foods and Drinks That Are Damaging to the Enamel

Some foods and drinks are really bad for your child’s teeth, and unfortunately, they are often some of the favorites ones of the little ones.

As you may have guessed by now, the biggest culprits are sweets. Candies like toffee or caramel that sticks to their teeth are the most damaging ones, but they aren’t the only sweets that you should avoid.

Fruit juices and soda are also very bad for your child’s teeth, as they are both sweet and acidic. Try to limit or eliminate them from your child’s diet, as they generally provide little, if any nutritional value. It’s better to give your child fruit as it may help them exercise their chewing muscles, get their necessary fiber intake, limit the sugars that are ingested and clean up their teeth rather than destroying them.

Other than the three measures presented above, you can help your child’s oral health by being involved in their oral hygiene, always insist that they clean their teeth and make the dental office a friendly and safe place for them.

5 Ways to Help Your Child Feel Relaxed at the Dentist

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Does your child experience anxiety or misbehave at the dentist’s office? If so, the following tips can help!

Though many children react positively to dentists and other medical providers, some have issues with going to appointments. The most common results are anxiety, rebellion, and generally misbehaving. This behavior can be incredibly frustrating for parents. Fortunately, there are a variety of methods you can use to manage your children’s behavior before and during dental appointments.

child scared at dentist's office

Realistic Expectations

The first method you can use comes before you ever arrive at the dental office. It is creating realistic expectations for your children. What this strategy does is reduce fear through education. The first way you can do so is through simple explanations about what a facility looks like and what might happen during an appointment. The second method is reading through a children’s book that tackles this issue for you.  

Modeling

Children tend to model their behavior on the people around them. You can use this effect to help them with dental fears. The best way to do so is to bring them along to an appointment for you or one of their siblings. This experience should show them how a person is supposed to handle medical treatment.

Distractions

Now, let’s move on to management tips that you can use at the appointment, rather than before it. One of them is providing distractions, and the best way to do so is through the dentist’s entertainment system. What it allows you to do is focus your children’s attention on a television show or movie, rather than the treatment they are getting. Not only are distractions useful, but watching entertaining content might help you build a positive association between your child and the dentist.

Incentives

One of the most powerful persuasion strategies you can use is offering incentives. To do so, think of one of the things your children love to do most. Whether that is a trip to the movies, going to the park, or eating at a favorite restaurant, you can use that activity as a bargaining chip to help your children behave. Even better, sharing the experience can be a wonderful bonding moment for you and them.

Positive Reinforcement

Lastly, a bit of positive reinforcement goes a long way when it comes to behavioral management. Telling your children that they are brave and giving other words of encouragement should make them behave at the dentist. As an added benefit, this method should become more and more effective as time passes because reinforcement tends to compound when used over long periods.

If you’re lucky, none of your children will have issues going to the dentist. What might happen, though, is that one or more of them misbehaves or feels anxiety when doing so. Your best bet at solving this problem is utilizing the tried and true behavioral management techniques on this list. One last factor that you can’t discount is the quality and friendliness of your pediatric dentist. If you think it might be time to find a new pediatric dentist, find someone that puts your children at ease.

The Top 3 Reasons Why Kids Get Cavities

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Following these simple tips can result in your children being happy and healthy for years to come.

Let’s start by discussing the process behind cavities. First, tiny pieces of harmful foods get caught in the teeth and gums. Next, if the person does not have a sufficient oral care routine, they turn into harmful plaque. Lastly, that plaque starts to attack the tooth, getting inside of it and causing decay. The two questions to ask when thinking about your children’s oral health are:

  • Which foods are harmful?
  • What does an insufficient oral care routine look like?

In the following sections we will discuss the answers to these questions.

st. louis mom checking her child's teeth

Sugars

The first factor that causes cavities is sugar, and unfortunately, it is everywhere in the modern world. You probably already know that you should limit your child’s consumption of candy and soda. What you might not understand is that foods and drinks like fruit, sports drinks, juice, and milk are high in this harmful substance as well. Other foods, like spaghetti sauce, ketchup, and granola bars, sneak up on even the most informed parents.

While you don’t need to be obsessive about cutting every gram of sugar out of your child’s diet, making an effort to reduce the most problematic food and drinks is a smart idea. First, start with drinks and obvious foods like candy and sugary cereal. Next, begin to cut out ones that fly under the radar. You should have a healthy, low sugar diet by the end of this process.

Acids

The second dietary issue that you need to know about is acids. One factor that makes this problem difficult to avoid is that it is not as easy to find as sugar, given that there is no acidity rating on standard nutrition labels. Fortunately, you can learn about the most problematic of these foods and cut them out with excellent results. They include frozen dinners, pastries, artificial sweeteners, cereals, and sodas. One thing that bodes well for you is that almost all of these examples are sugary too, so you can often solve both issues with one dietary decision.

Poor Oral Care Routine

The last crucial piece of cavity avoidance is a committed oral care routine. While technique plays a role, the more common issue is a lack of commitment. Children frequently skip brushing and flossing without their parents knowing. As a result, sugars, acids, and other pieces of food stick to their teeth and are free to develop into more harmful substances. Taking care of oral health every morning and night does an excellent job of halting this process before it leads to cavities.

One thing to note is that a child getting a cavity is not the end of the world. A skilled pediatric dentist can generally help you resolve this issue, without any significant long-term effects. That being said, your kids having healthy mouths is the best outcome of all. We hope that by limiting sugars, cutting down on acids, and having an excellent oral care routine results in your children being happy and healthy for years to come.

7 Sure Signs That You Should Visit Your Local Pediatric Dentist

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One of the most challenging decisions parents regularly make is when to take their children to see a dentist. The reason is that many issues solve themselves with time, and people prefer to have that happen rather than spending time and money at a dental office. This approach can backfire, though, as some problems signal a need for professional help. Here are seven of them.

Chronic Pain

A day or two of tooth or gum pain for your children may not worry you. However, when that becomes three days or more, it is time to go to the dentist. The reason is that an extended period of discomfort almost always signals a more significant problem. Seeing a professional right away will help solve that issue as quickly as possible.

Bleeding Gums

Next, we have bleeding gums. This symptom is indicative of two things. One, your children might not floss enough, meaning the gums are sensitive and need more care. The second is a gum disease, which is much more severe. Either way, it is a good idea to speak with your dentist.

Receding Gums

One thing to note about gum recession is that it almost never affects children. Instead, it is typically an issue that the elderly have. Still, if you noticed gum loss in your children, it could be a sign of a more significant oral health problem.

Shifting Teeth

Parents often have a tough time with this one because they know that kids lose their baby teeth early in life. This fact causes them to not take shifting teeth seriously. Unfortunately, this approach can lead to more significant issues later on in life. Instead, get those moving teeth checked out by a pediatric dentist.

Bumps and Sores

What is confusing about bumps is that many of them go away on their own, a typical example being canker sores. On the other hand, your child might develop a thrush, which is a much more severe condition. Without professional help, this fungal infection could cause your child harm.

Dry Mouth

Saliva is essential to oral health. The reason is that it keeps the entire system lubricated, which provides protection from acids and other dangers. A dry mouth will take that defense away and make your children more prone to oral health issues. Experiencing this symptom for a day or two could merely be dehydration, but extended bouts are cause for concern.

Discoloration

Lastly, we have discoloration. This issue affects the teeth and the gums, both of which can cause long-term damage. If you notice strange coloring in your child’s mouth, it is time to set up an appointment with a professional.

You should not only take your child to the dentist when a major problem arises. It is in their best interests to visit a pediatric dentist on a regular basis to ensure their oral health is monitored. In this way, minor problems can be caught before they turn into major problems. To set up an appointment, give us a call today at (314) 862-7844!