Parents will do whatever they can to give their children a better life. Parents are constantly looking into the best services or medical professionals. When it comes to health services, don’t forget to keep your child’s dental care at the forefront.

When your child gets their first tooth, it’s time to start finding a great dentist to oversee their dental care. Dr. James C. Ross and his team have served the Novi Michigan area for decades, and not only that, but we’re a mom-approved dental office. It’s true! We received the MetroParent Magazine’s Mom’s Choice Award for Best Dentist in 2015. We can help your child, too, whenever you call 248-697-2487 or use the online form to schedule your visit.

Meanwhile, we have a few tips for how you can improve your child’s dental care.

Start Brushing Their Teeth Early

There are toothbrushes for both newborn and infants. It’s important to have a toothbrush for your child to rub on their gums early in their life. This cleans the mouth, allowing the teeth to erupt in a healthy tissue and gets the child use to having someone clean their mouth. Early in your child’s life, you can use a rubber toothbrush without applying any toothpaste. Your infant can chew on the toothbrush much like they would a teething ring. Whenever the teeth begin to erupt, you’ll want to use a wet toothbrush and a tiny amount of toothpaste on the teeth. The toothpaste should be no larger than a grain of rice. As more of teeth come in, you’ll want to brush your child’s teeth twice a day. You can lead by example during this time by brushing along with your child.   

Encourage Them To Brush Longer

The American Dental Association recommends that you brush your teeth twice a day for about two minutes at a time. We’ve found, from asking our patients, that people don’t brush the full two minutes. That’s a problem because you need to remove the harmful plaque and bacteria from your teeth.

There are a few tips you can do to make sure you are effectively brushing your teeth — or your is effectively brushing their teeth. There are free dental apps available that include a timer. The app counts down the the two minutes but also guides you in your brushing to make sure you reach every quadrant of your mouth. You can also download apps for children that make games out of brushing. Some of parents have tried the Toothsavers Brushing Game in which the child must unlock a curse with proper brushing.  

Bring Them to The Dentist  

It’s no secret that people who regularly visit the dentist have healthier teeth. That’s because we do much much than clean the teeth. We provide instruction for proper oral hygiene and have state-of-the-art treatments that will reduce the risk of future cavities. Additionally, a child who gets comfortable with a dentist at an early age is more likely to practice great oral health for the rest of their life.

Whenever you bring your child to our office, we make the experience fun and reward them with prizes. We ask the mom and dad to join their child during their visit to help the child get used to the office. Most of our staff have children, so they can relate to what the parents and children expect.

The American Dental Association recommends that you bring your child to the dentist whenever the first tooth erupts or by the time they are 1 years old. During those first visits, we simply monitor the tooth and jaw bone development. Later we’ll begin doing light cleanings and polishings of the teeth. As your child gets a little older, we can start providing preventive treatments like fluoride and dental sealants.

Fluoride is a natural substance found to reduce the risk of cavities and actually repair the enamel — the outer layer of the tooth. You’ll find fluoride in almost any toothpaste, but our office provides additional fluoride treatments during regular cleanings and exams. Dental sealants are used to cover the biting surface of the teeth. The sealant literally block out the harmful bacteria and plaque. The sealants can last for several years!

Our Novi Michigan dental office is constantly learning new ways to give your child a healthier, better smile. We’d love to meet your family and discuss the ways we can help. Give us a call today at 248-697-2487 or use the online form to book a visit.