Pediatric Dentistry (Kids Dentistry)
TAKING CARE OF THE SMALL MEMBERS OF THE FAMILY IS A FULL-TIME JOB. Dr. Nugent and his wife Beth have their hands full with their two girls. Parents have enormous responsibilities and duties in the care of their children. Parents also need to take care of their children’s teeth.
Dr. Nugent recommends that no toothpaste be used from birth to 18 Months.
Dr. Nugent recommends that you begin cleaning your children’s teeth as soon as the teeth begin to come in. For infants this can be a simple cotton gauze of wash cloth without toothpaste. Gently rub their teeth and gums with gauze or wash cloth. Once your child has more teeth, parents can use a small, soft toothbrush to brush your child’s teeth with water.
Dr. Nugent when should parents use toothpaste?
In general, children should not use toothpaste until they are at least 18 months old. Furthermore, the first toothpaste used should be fluoride free toothpaste. This is essentially a “training toothpaste” where the child learns not to swallow the toothpaste
What To Look For In A children’s toothpaste:
• SAFE TO SWALLOW: Most young children tend to swallow while brushing, rather than spitting out the toothpaste—so we recommend that your children’s toothpaste is formulated with this in mind.
• USE ONLY A PEA-SIZED AMOUNT: Don’t use too much toothpaste—just squeeze a small, pea-size (or smaller) amount onto the toothbrush. Your child doesn’t need much toothpaste to be effective, and you don’t want your child to swallow too much toothpaste.
• FUN FLAVORS: Try some different flavors of toothpaste and see what your child likes. Some children—especially at the toddler stage—are very picky about flavors and might be reluctant to use a certain flavor of toothpaste. So be prepared to buy a few different varieties of children’s toothpaste and see which one is your child’s favorite.
When can my child use adult toothpaste?
When the child can successfully spit out all their toothpaste. Typically this is around age 4. Still use a “pea sized” amount and supervise your child’s brushing. Remember brushing teeth for two minutes is very important.
Brushing your child’s teeth is an important part of parenting, and you need to start at a young age. By taking the time each day (after breakfast, after lunch or when the child comes home from school, and before bed) to clean your child’s teeth will help create a lifetime of healthy dental habits and happy smiles!
Dr. Nugent and his daughter at the hospital.
Kids Dentist Pasadena Texas:
Dr. Nugent is a great children’s dentist and makes each visit to his office fun for your little ones. Come visit our office at 3421 Burke Rd Ste A, Pasadena, Texas.
Call us at 713-941-8261.
What’s the deal with baby teeth?
Your child’s first teeth are very important for their mouth health and growth. Dr. Nugent is committed to teaching your child how to take care of their teeth properly so they can have a healthy smile as they get older. Call our Pasadena Texas dental office at 713-941-8261 to schedule your child’s dental appointment. Unfortunately, many people think that a child’s baby teeth are not important in the long run because they fall out and are replaced by permanent teeth. But baby teeth are very important for your child’s mouth health and growth.
There are many important jobs that baby teeth do. Among these roles are:
- Aiding in proper jaw growth
- Making speech easier to make and grow
- Aiding in good chewing skills and overall nutrition
- Helping with spacing and placement of permanent teeth
- Having a healthy smile makes you feel good about yourself
The most important reason to take care of your child’s baby teeth is to help make sure that their adult teeth come in the right place. The primary teeth make room for the adult teeth in certain parts of the mouth.
If a baby tooth falls out too soon because of decay or an accident and the space isn’t kept open by a space maintainer or another oral appliance, the teeth around the gap can shift out of place. This can cause the permanent tooth to come in the wrong way. Misaligned teeth can make it more likely that you’ll get cavities, have crooked teeth, have a bad bite, or need orthodontic care in the future.
Dr. Nugent will tell you how to help your child take care of their teeth in the best way. This will tell you how to brush and floss your child’s teeth the best way, how to help your child develop good oral habits, and when your child can start brushing his or her own teeth on their own. We will also set up a plan for your child to come to our office for preventive care on a frequent basis. As part of preventive care, Dr. Nugent or the hygienist will clean and check your teeth, apply coatings, and give you fluoride treatments.