Kids dentist near me

Are You looking for a close by specialist? Milford Dentists is a Kids dentist near you......... Parents often ask “when should I bring my child to the dentist”. My answer to this is “as early as possible”.

I believe it is very important for children to see health professionals in happy non-threatening situations.

Let’s talk about an imaginary child called Alice. If you bring Alice along when you come to the dentist for a procedure that you are OK with ie that doesn't stress you out, several things might happen. Alice may or may not be interested in what is happening. She may be scared because things are unfamiliar. She may be shy. Whatever happens during this appointment she will be under no pressure to open her mouth & show me her teeth.

After a few visits like this, she will feel fine about her surroundings & often feels left out of the proceedings. At this point, Alice may decide that she wants me to look at her teeth & not the other way round. The end result is someone who hasn’t been “forced” because of necessity to open her mouth.

Compare this ideal scenario with a child who having never been to the dentist, falls over in the playground & chips her front tooth. This scenario is traumatic for everyone. Mum or Dad gets a phone call from kindy or school. The child arrives at the dentist with a worried parent who is oozing feelings of stress & concern (kids being perceptive little things always pick up on this).

Both child & parent are upset & arrive to meet someone the child does not know, which often makes a difficult situation impossible. The child is now scared because a stranger wants to look at her injury. The end result of this is more upset, which is the absolute last thing any of us want.

Other first visits to the dentist can be made incredibly traumatic for a child because parents inadvertently say thoughtless things. Some examples of these would be:

• Reminiscing about your past e.g.: traumatic visits to “The Murder House”.
• Saying things like ~
• “It won’t hurt a bit”
• “She’ll give you an injection”
• “You’ll only feel a little prick”
• “You don’t still use that old slow grinding drill?
• “Don’t worry it’ll be over soon”

Please note that if a child is happy to have me look at their teeth, in most circumstances, if I’m left to do my job without any of the above or similar said, I can carry out many procedures quickly & painlessly. Situations can deteriorate rapidly when a parent tries to help by explaining a procedure on my behalf.

For want of repeating myself, using words like, hurt, pain, needle, injection, or the drill can & do have very upsetting consequences.

Think about this. If your first experience of having a filling was a painless process, why would you be scared for your child?

In summary

• Try to see a dentist before anything needs doing (hopefully things will never need doing).
• If talking about the dentist try not to scare your child.
• Try not to explain things to your child during a procedure unless invited to do so. This invariably always makes things worse. Leave the explanation to me.

Thank you for taking this advice in advance

Posted by Andrea

Milford Dentists is proud to help the good people of the North Shore with all their dental requirements; especially in our mission to help children - From Devonport and Belmont up through Takapuna, Castor Bay,Mairangi Bay & Browns Bay as well as Albany, Northcote, Hillcrest, the Whangaporoa Peninsula and beyond give us a call - 09 4896575.

Children & Kids Cavities - Learn To How To Protect Your Toddlers Teeth

Tooth decay and cavities affect not only adults but also our children – and from a very early age. So to keep your kids smile happy and healthy, make sure you keep their teeth properly cleaned and flossed and include regular dental visits to reduce the likelihood of later treatments and unexpected costs. 

You may think your children will always have strong, healthy teeth but recent reports are showing tooth decay occurring at an earlier age than ever before, and the importance of teaching your children how they can have good oral health habits to last them a lifetime.

The incidence of tooth decay is occurring at an earlier age for children and even toddlers with international (and local) reports revealing children developing cavities in their primary teeth from ages 2 and up, according to USA’s National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research and the New Zealand Dental Association.

The National Institute’s research is a concern for parents because 42 percent of children ages 2 to 11 develop a cavity in their primary (AKA milk or baby) teeth, in addition to New Zealand surveys which have identified that more than 40% of 2-4-year-olds are not being seen by a dental professional and 44% of 5-year-olds have at least one decayed, missing or filled tooth.

Although dental decay remains the most prevalent chronic, and irreversible, disease in New Zealand with free dental care available for children up to 18 years, many parents don't see oral health as a priority and only take their children to a dentist in an emergency.

What Are The Causes of Tooth Decay in Toddlers?

In toddlers, tooth decay begins in the mouth as bacteria begin to eat away the primary teeth. A common cause of toddler tooth decay occurs when your child goes to bed with a bottle (AKA baby bottle tooth decay). When milk or juice from the bottle sits in your child’s mouth overnight it provides an ideal environment for breeding bacteria.

Unhealthy eating habits such as children sucking on sweets for prolonged periods or eating a lot of sugary foods can also contribute to tooth decay along with poor oral hygiene.

How Can I Prevent Tooth Decay in My Toddler?

Here in New Zealand, children have free dental care available, and it is recommended that parents make sure checks start from 9 months old (or before their first birthday).

To prevent tooth decay in toddlers, never allow your child go to sleep with a bottle or a sipping cup of milk or juice. If you provide your child a drink before bed or to sleep, use only water. Dental experts recommend that if your children do drink milk or sugary drinks, they should be consumed quickly instead of sipping them slowly (to reduce the exposure time of teeth to decay-causing sugars from the drinks in a bottle or sipping cup).

Be sure to floss daily and brush your child's teeth twice daily (avoiding sugary foods where possible). Highly acid foods, (eg. cola) or fruit juice, literally dissolve the enamel and subsequently make your child's teeth more susceptible to cavities.

Brush your toddler's teeth at least twice daily after eating sweets (or other foods) with a with a soft-bristled brush, but make sure fluoride toothpaste is only used when your child is capable of spitting it out without swallowing it.

To brush baby teeth correctly, either you or your child should hold the brush at a 45-degree angle, with gentle strokes covering the entire tooth surface for at least 2 minutes.

Treating Tooth Decay in Toddlers

If your child does develop tooth decay, to prevent the bacteria from spreading, dental work will be required (fillings to correct smaller cavities or a full crown if the damage is extensive). A tooth with decay throughout may require extraction to prevent the bacteria spreading to other teeth. If the decay is severe in primary teeth, pitting or staining in the secondary (adult) teeth can occur.

The habits you start early for your child's baby and adult teeth are important for long-term oral hygiene and health. Although your toddler's teeth will fall out, don’t ignore their care. For a healthy smile throughout their lifetime, make sure your children are protected from cavities at an early age.  Contact us now to discuss your children's dental health and how we can help.

Posted by Karen - Dental Therapist