As a family based practice we have treated many generations of patients and treat children of all ages. We have a fun child play area with books, toys and colouring for your child to explore and relax in before their appointment.

Caring for your child’s teeth

Birth to six months of age:

• Clean the infant’s mouth with gauze or use a soft infant toothbrush after feedings and at bedtime.
• Consult your child’s pediatrician regarding fluoride supplements.
• Regulate feeding habits (bottle feeding and breastfeeding).

Six to 12 months of age:

• During this time, the first tooth should appear. Consult the dentist for an examination.
• Brush teeth after each feeding and at bedtime with a small, soft-bristled brush.
• As the child begins to walk, stay alert of potential dental and/or facial injuries.
• Wean the child from the bottle by his or her first birthday. (If a woman breastfeeds her child, the ADA recommends breastfeeding for at least one year. The World Health Organization recommends breastfeeding for at least two years.)

Twelve to 24 months of age:

• Follow the schedule of dental examinations and cleanings, as recommended by your child’s pediatric dentist. Generally, dental examinations and cleanings are recommended every 6 months for children and adults.
• As your child learns to rinse his or her mouth, and as most deciduous (baby) teeth have erupted by this age, brushing with a pea-sized portion of fluoridated toothpaste becomes appropriate.

Proper care of a child’s deciduous teeth (also known as “baby” or primary teeth) is very important as these teeth hold space for the future eruption of permanent teeth.

• If a baby tooth decays or is removed too early, the space necessary for the permanent teeth is lost and can only be regained through orthodontic treatment.
• Infected baby teeth can cause the permanent teeth to develop improperly resulting in stains, pits, and weaker teeth.
• Primary teeth are important in speech development.
• Primary teeth aid in chewing food properly, promoting healthy nutrition.

Most children begin losing their baby teeth around the ages five or six–usually the front teeth first. They continue to lose baby teeth until the age of 12 or 13 when all of the permanent teeth finally come through, except for the third molars (wisdom teeth). These molars begin to appear around age 17 to 21.