At Spokane Pediatric Dentistry, we encourage families to establish a dental home early in their child’s life. The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), American Dental Association (ADA), and American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry (AAPD) recommend scheduling a child’s first dental visit by their first birthday or when their first tooth appears, whichever comes first. Children who receive early preventive dental care are more likely to maintain healthy smiles and develop positive oral health habits as they grow.
A child’s first visit is designed to be comfortable, informative, and stress-free. During this appointment, our doctors will evaluate your child’s oral development, check for any early signs of tooth decay, and discuss age-appropriate oral hygiene and nutrition recommendations with parents or caregivers. To help children feel secure and relaxed, they will typically sit on a parent’s lap during the examination.
We welcome parents and caregivers to accompany their child throughout the visit. Building strong relationships with both our young patients and their families is an important part of our approach to care. During the exam, our doctors will review their findings, discuss any recommended treatments, and answer questions to help you make informed decisions about your child’s oral health.
Our goal is to make every visit a positive experience, creating healthy smiles while helping children feel comfortable, confident, and excited about dental care.
At Spokane Pediatric Dentistry, we understand that each child is unique. We offer various dental approaches and techniques, customized for each individual child. As a pediatric specialist, our doctors have received additional training to work specifically with children, including kids with special needs.
- Dental visits during pregnancy are safe and important
- Your oral health can impact your baby both during pregnancy and after birth
- Treating any active decay while pregnant will transmit fewer bacteria to your baby
- Moms with untreated tooth decay and gum infections can pass cavity-causing bacteria to their babies through kissing and sharing utensils
- The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry advises that children should visit the dentist by their first birthday
- Your baby's primary teeth typically begin to appear around six months old
- As soon as teeth appear, establish an oral care routine by brushing their teeth with a soft toothbrush with a rice-sized amount of fluoride toothpaste
- Never put your baby to bed with a bottle of milk or juice
- Dental visits during pregnancy are safe and important
- Your oral health can impact your baby both during pregnancy and after birth
- Treating any active decay while pregnant will transmit fewer bacteria to your baby
- Moms with untreated tooth decay and gum infections can pass cavity-causing bacteria to their babies through kissing and sharing utensils
Tips On Breaking A Thumb Habit:
- Give positive reinforcement and praise when they are not sucking their thumb
- Use a sock or cloth on the thumb
- Coat the thumb with something distasteful, such as hot sauce, mustard, or Mavala (a harmless, yet bitter nail polish-like liquid)
Tips On Eliminating The Pacifier:
- Give positive reinforcement and praise
- At their checkup, encourage a commitment to stop using a pacifier with a promise of an "extra" prize at their next visit
- Do a balloon send off, with pacifiers attached to balloons
- Give their pacifiers to the "Pacifier Fairy."
send-off
Is your child struggling with a thumb, finger, or pacifier habit? Let us know at your child's next dental checkup, and we can offer some tips and tricks to both you and your little one!
