Children’s Dentistry

Main Street Dental strives to create a general awareness of good oral health. Early prevention and education help make long term care and maintenance possible. When it comes to your child’s dental health, there are many things to take into account. Below are some general guidelines for dental health that parents and caregivers may consider as their child grows and develops.

To continue improvement in the oral health of children, parents must be diligent even before birth. Unbeknownst to most parents and providers, the bacteria responsible for dental cavities can be transferred from parents (primarily mothers) to their young offspring. New-born’s are not actually born with the primary bacteria (Streptococcus mutans) necessary to cause dental cavities. Therefore, it is recommended that parents have their dental treatment completed before the birth of their child to minimize the transference of Strep mutans.  This can help minimize your child’s risk of developing early childhood cavities.

Another important fact to remember is never to put your baby to bed with a bottle filled with anything but water. Milk, fruit drinks, apple juice, or sugar water in a bottle overnight can wreak havoc with developing teeth, often resulting in rampant dental cavities.

Another way to prevent early dental cavities is to begin brushing as soon as the first teeth erupt into the mouth. This should be done twice daily (once in the morning and once before bedtime) with very little toothpaste. Starting this pattern of home care early on will develop a healthy habit of good oral hygiene that will last a lifetime.

By one year of age, your child should have his or her first teeth, and the first dental examination should follow soon thereafter. Regular check-ups every six months should then be completed in order to maintain good oral health and treat issues while they are relatively small.

Dental sealants help prevent the development of dental cavities in newly erupted permanent back teeth (molars and pre-molars). They involve the application of a bonded material to seal off the deep grooves that these teeth possess. They are quick and easy to apply, and very effective in preventing the onset of cavities on these tooth surfaces.

We invite you to call Main Street Dental at (403) 948-7945 to set up an appointment for your child to meet with our quality dental team, so they can begin their journey towards a lifetime of dental care!