Children's Dentistry

All twenty primary (or baby) teeth should be in by the time your child is 2-3 years old. Having a teething child can be stressful, especially if your child is in pain from their teeth growing in. It does not have to be a painful experience though. According to the Canadian Dental Association, some methods to make the teething process easier include rubbing your child’s gums with a clean finger, damp cloth, or with the back of a small, cool spoon. If these methods don’t work, our dentists, or your child’s family doctor can recommend a mild over-the-counter medication to relieve the pain.

Small children and babies are likely to chew anything they can get their hands on, walls, seatbelts, table edges, etc. Try to ensure your child stays away from materials that are hard enough to break their teeth or make their gums bleed. It is also important to avoid certain methods while handling a teething child:

• Do not use a liquid painkiller that can be rubbed on your toddler’s gums – your child could ingest some of it
• Avoid teething biscuits, since many teething biscuits have added sugar or contain hidden sugars
• Do not dismiss a fever! Fevers are not part of teething and if your child has a fever, it is likely not related to their new teeth – you should take your child to the doctor.

The common question all new parents have “At what age should my little one be seen by the dentist?”

It is recommended by the Canadian Dental Association (CDA) to assess your child within 6 months of the eruption of their first tooth or by age 1. However, at our office we recommend patients bring their children in between 1.5 - 2 years of age for their first visit. Even if your child cannot sit still in the chair, we like to familiarize children early on with the office environment and get them as comfortable as possible. Children who see a dentist from an early age are less likely to fear the dentist later in life. Preventative screenings may be all that is required at such an early age; however, at this time, the Scarboro Smiles team is able to help counsel parents on feeding methods and thumb and finger habits that will help build healthy hygiene habits. To get your child ready for their first visit, we suggest allowing your child to attend a hygiene visit with a parent or sibling to become familiar with the office and staff. It is also helpful to encourage regular tooth care at home.

For young toddlers, brushing with a toothbrush and water is usually sufficient. Non-fluoridated toothpaste can be used but you should always encourage your child to spit it out to help build good oral habits. Start brushing with a rice grain-sized amount of toothpaste and be sure to watch for any discolouration of their teeth. Until your child can completely spit all the toothpaste out of their mouth, fluoridated toothpaste should not be used.  If your child consumes fluoride toothpaste, dental fluorosis of the adult teeth can occur. Dental fluorosis is when the enamel does not properly form and appears with bright white and brown pitted stains. Dental enamel affected by dental fluorosis does not form as strong as it normally should and is therefore prone to cavities.