Your child's dental healthcare is important. Taking care of your kid's teeth and teaching children to care for their teeth is vital. Here at Children’s Dental Center of New Hampshire, your Amherst, NH, pediatric dentists Dr. James McAveeney and Dr. Andrew Cheifetz can help you.

If bacteria settles in, cavities begin to eat away at your child's teeth. That's why it's important that you help your child maintain a consistent oral regiment of brushing and flossing, as well as visiting the dentist twice a year.

Your child's first dental appointment can be nerve-wracking, but here's what you can do:

The American Dental Association recommends scheduling an appointment with a pediatric dentist when their first tooth erupts. Your dentist will examine your child's dental hygiene, growth and development.

Before the visit, make sure,

• Your child is well rested
• To keep any concerns to yourself since children can pickup on them and become anxious
• To speak positively about dental visits and avoid speaking about them in a negative context
• You talk with your child about visiting the dentist

You should expect your child's first dental appointment to include the following:

• Your doctor will assess your child's need for fluoride, and demonstrate how you should take proper dental care of your child's teeth and oral hygiene.
• Your dentist will thoroughly examine your child's teeth, jaw, bite, gums, and oral tissues to help monitor growth and development.

Preventative Care:

Braces: The purpose of braces is to fix a bad bite and malocclusions, which is when teeth are crooked or crowded. These issues are noticed between the ages of 6 and 12, so orthodontic treatment usually begins around the ages of 8 to 14, while the child's bone structure is still developing.

Sealants: A sealant is a thin coat applied to the surface of teeth, preferably the chewing surfaces. They prevent bacteria, as well as other debris, into the grooves and pits of your teeth. The procedure consists of:

• Your Amherst dentist will clean and dry your child's tooth
• Then they apply an acid gel
• Your child's tooth will become rougher on the chewing surface
• Your doctor will then remove the gel, dry the tooth and apply sealant onto the grooves
• The dentist will expose the sealant to a special dental light to harden the sealant

For any questions or concerns regarding your child's hygiene, call your dentist at Children’s Dental Center of New Hampshire in Amherst, NH, to learn more about protecting your child's teeth from tooth decay and cavities.