Your children deserve the best possible dental care, setting them up for a lifetime of health with a beautiful smile. In Vista, CA, Dr. Benjamin and Ashley Koppel prioritize care for the whole family, including infants, children, and adolescents.
Building a Good Foundation
It’s easy for dental issues to start early and follow you throughout your life. Teaching good habits to your children while young will set them up for long-term oral and overall health. Primary teeth (“baby teeth”) serve some extremely important functions such as holding space into which permanent, or adult, teeth will erupt as your child ages and grows.
Once teeth start to appear, tooth decay becomes a threat. In moderate to severe cases, it can affect speech and nutrition or lead to a serious infection. In fact, cavities are the most common childhood disease, but are also the most preventable. Even before your child has adult teeth, teach them the habit of brushing their teeth responsibly twice a day and healthy eating habits to avoid cavities.
Up until your child is around 6 years old, primary teeth are responsible for biting and chewing, and help with proper speech. Around that age your child will start to "lose" primary teeth and adult teeth will grow in to replace them. Until around 12-years-old, your child will have a combination of baby and permanent teeth. You'll want to ensure your child's teeth stay healthy and are lost naturally as their time comes, avoiding cavities through good toothcare and habits.
Your child's first teeth will start to appear between the ages of 6 to 9 months, though they can show as early as 3 months or as late as 14 months. You can help with any discomfort caused by teething by wiping their gums and teeth with a damp washcloth, letting them suck or chew on a water-soaked gauze pad or specially-designed teething toy.
Daily Brushing Routine
Few things will be as important to your child's long-term dental health as establishing a daily brushing routine with a small, soft-bristled toothbrush and small amount of fluoridated toothpaste. Start this routine around age 2 and consider what you can do to make it fun! Be sure to evaluate their methods for effectiveness; your child may need continued help until about age 6.
The First Dental Appointment
The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry (AAPD) recommends that children see a dentist by their first birthday. Tooth decay can develop quickly, progressing from the outer, hard enamel layer of the tooth into the softer dentition in six months or less. To protect your child's teeth and your budget, we recommend following this advice.
Pediatric Dental Treatments
We offer a full range of dental treatments to prevent tooth decay in children, as well as to repair teeth.
Treatments include:
We look forward to meeting you. Call 760-945-4189 or request an appointment online to set up your first visit. We’ll be in touch soon.
