Toddlers
Compassionate Dental Care for Your Toddler – Children’s Dentistry in Folsom
Between the ages of 1 and 3 years old, your child will get their set of primary teeth. While these eventually fall out so permanent teeth can take their place, caring for baby teeth plays a crucial role in a young child’s dental development.
At The Tooth Station, we provide dental care for toddlers specifically customized to unique needs of their age group. We educate parents on teeth cleaning habits and advise against issues that could impact the development of healthy teeth.
Dental Check-Ups for 2 Year-Olds
A child’s primary teeth not only allow for proper chewing and speaking, they are also vital to the development of the jaws and for guiding the permanent teeth into place. For this reason, it’s vital to bring your toddler to the dentist for routine exams and suggested care. Children who prematurely lose primary teeth may require a space maintainer, a device used to hold the natural space open and prevent the altered alignment of permanent teeth.
Bring your child to The Tooth Station to have their smile evaluated by our dentist as soon as possible. As your child reaches the ages of two or three, we carefully monitor the growth of jaws and emergence of adult teeth to set a foundation of excellent health and alignment. Check-up appointments also allow us to provide:
- Information about kids’ healthy eating habits for strong teeth and bones
- Teeth cleanings to detect potential dental health issues
- Kids dental sealants on especially grooved or pitted teeth
- The most effective tooth brushing and flossing techniques for toddlers
- Methods to encourage young children’s dental self-care
Common Toddler Dental Problems: Thumb-Sucking and Pacifier Use
An innately soothing activity, thumb or pacifier sucking is a healthy way for children to calm themselves. Most children give up the practice by age four before the permanent teeth come in. Once a child has their permanent teeth, it’s possible that continued pacifier use or thumb sucking could disrupt the proper development of the jaw and teeth.
If you notice the movement of permanent teeth or poor alignment after prolonged thumb-sucking and pacifier use, visit our office for a professional assessment. To curb the use of these potentially damaging self-soothing activities in toddlers, try to determine what triggers feelings of anxiety for your child and look to provide them with extra love and comfort in those moments.
Child Dental Care Tips: Toothpaste and Fluoride for Young Kids
Parents often ask us what kind of toddler toothpaste to choose. Any fluoridated children's toothpaste will work well. Use a smear of toothpaste on the brush and tell your child to not eat, drink, or rinse immediately after.
Using this amount of fluoridated toothpaste will result in ingestion of approximately 1/10th of a mg of fluoride, compared to 1/4th mg when drops or a tablet are used. However, the toothpaste is more effective, as it is directly applied to the teeth.
Find a Dentist for Toddlers Near You – Contact The Tooth Station
We are the first stop on a lifelong journey of dental and whole body health. Contact our dental office in Folsom or call today at 916-984-6747.
