Dental Care for Toddlers

Youngsters need proper dental care to get them off to a good start in life. As soon as your child's first tooth erupts through the gum, he or she should start seeing the dentist. With good dental hygiene, teeth and gums will be better protected and maintained throughout a child's life.

As teeth start growing in, children often experience pain due to the process of teething. If your child is having discomfort, there are certain methods of relieving the pain. Massaging of the gums will sometimes help, and a pacifier and/or teething ring may bring relief. The dentist can recommend a pain killer that can be placed safely on your child's gums, and a cold washcloth may also bring some relief.

Toddlers often suck their fingers and thumbs until they reach the age of two or three years. For the most part, children will outgrow thumb sucking. But there are times when the habit can linger past three years of age. Thumb sucking, if continues for some time, can create problems with a child's bite and also with the formation of the jaw, and teeth may not grow in properly. If a child's habit of sucking on fingers and/or thumb lasts for a longer period of time than it should, a trip to the dentist will ascertain if the habit is affecting dental health. There are methods of dealing with thumb sucking if it becomes a problem, including wearing of an appliance to prevent the habit.

Source: Cosmetic Dentist Los Angeles
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