Children’s Dentistry

Child Dental Care in Greer, SC

Dental hygiene should begin when your child is a baby. Starting your children on an oral hygiene routine from an early age will go a long way in ensuring healthier teeth and gums throughout their lives. Part of this involves scheduling regular visits to a dentist. At Carraway Family and Cosmetic Dentistry, we are a family dental office with a wealth of experience in both adult and children’s dentistry.

Your child’s first dental appointment should take place within six months of the first tooth coming out, but no later than their first birthday. Dental visits should start early because your child can get cavities as soon as they have teeth. However, the first cleaning typically takes place a little later, between 12 and 36 months, after most of the baby teeth have appeared. Right from the first dental checkup, you should work with an experienced children’s dentist.

Schedule an Appointment

Children’s Dentistry

Child Dental Care
in Greer, SC

Dental hygiene should begin when your child is a baby. Starting your children on an oral hygiene routine from an early age will go a long way in ensuring healthier teeth and gums throughout their lives. Part of this involves scheduling regular visits to a dentist. At Carraway Family and Cosmetic Dentistry, we are a family dental office with a wealth of experience in both adult and children’s dentistry.

Your child’s first dental appointment should take place within six months of the first tooth coming out, but no later than their first birthday. Dental visits should start early because your child can get cavities as soon as they have teeth. However, the first cleaning typically takes place a little later, between 12 and 36 months, after most of the baby teeth have appeared. Right from the first dental checkup, you should work with an experienced children’s dentist.

Schedule an Appointment

What Will My Child’s
First Exam Look Like?

The first dental visit usually takes between 30 and 45 minutes. This is usually a quick and informal appointment to introduce the little one to the dentist. Depending on the age of your child, the dental expert will conduct a comprehensive exam of the teeth, gums, jaws, bite, and oral tissues. This is designed to check for proper development as well as cavities. The dentist will perform gentle teeth cleaning to remove stains, tartar, and plaque if necessary.

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What if My Child Doesn’t Cooperate?
It is normal for both adults and children to have dental anxiety. However, if your child does not cooperate or gets really fearful, you should try to create excitement around the first visit and make them look forward to future appointments. Below are some tips to help you.

• Have a two-way conversation with your child about the dental visit

• Read books or watch videos about dentists together

• Choose a pediatric dentist, preferably a fun one

• Schedule your appointment when your child tends to be happiest and most cooperative

• Be a good role model by being cheerful and staying relaxed

• Be patient with the little one

How Can I Prevent My Child from Getting Cavities?
Prevention is always better than cure. As a parent, you will want to keep dental cavities away in order to avoid future headaches. Here is how you can go about it.

• Regular brushing and flossing. Start brushing as soon as the first tooth appears

• Ensure your little one eats a well-balanced diet

• Make sure your child drinks a lot of water

• Avoid sharing food and beverages to minimize the spread of bacteria

• Schedule routine dental visits

• Ask your child’s dentist about dental sealants. The protective sealants help to prevent decay

In case you suspect your child has a cavity, take them for a dental checkup immediately. Indeed, family dentistry also covers diagnosis and treatment of cavities in children.

Should I Be Brushing My Child’s Teeth with Fluoride?
Fluoride can help to prevent cavities and reverse early signs of tooth decay. While the mineral is generally recognized as safe, babies and children need less fluoride than adults. Normally, children develop the ability to spit at around age three. As such, experts recommend that children younger than three years old use fluoride toothpaste in an amount the size of a grain of rice, while those between three and six years old should use at most a pea-sized amount of fluoride toothpaste. However, you can consider fluoride-free toothpaste if you are concerned about the mineral. Our experts in children’s dentistry will be happy to advise you further during your regular visits.

How Often Should My Child Come in for a Cleaning and Exam?
After the first appointment, children should go to the dentist at least once every six months. This allows for proper dental care which may entail a dental exam, teeth cleaning, teeth x-rays and fluoride treatment. During the dental visits, children’s dentistry experts will address any oral health problems before they become more serious.

What Will My Child’s
First Exam Look Like?

The first dental visit usually takes between 30 and 45 minutes. This is usually a quick and informal appointment to introduce the little one to the dentist. Depending on the age of your child, the dental expert will conduct a comprehensive exam of the teeth, gums, jaws, bite, and oral tissues. This is designed to check for proper development as well as cavities. The dentist will perform gentle teeth cleaning to remove stains, tartar, and plaque if necessary.

Learn More

What if My Child Doesn’t Cooperate?
It is normal for both adults and children to have dental anxiety. However, if your child does not cooperate or gets really fearful, you should try to create excitement around the first visit and make them look forward to future appointments. Below are some tips to help you.

• Have a two-way conversation with your child about the dental visit

• Read books or watch videos about dentists together

• Choose a pediatric dentist, preferably a fun one

• Schedule your appointment when your child tends to be happiest and most cooperative

• Be a good role model by being cheerful and staying relaxed

• Be patient with the little one

How Can I Prevent My Child from Getting Cavities?
Prevention is always better than cure. As a parent, you will want to keep dental cavities away in order to avoid future headaches. Here is how you can go about it.

• Regular brushing and flossing. Start brushing as soon as the first tooth appears

• Ensure your little one eats a well-balanced diet

• Make sure your child drinks a lot of water

• Avoid sharing food and beverages to minimize the spread of bacteria

• Schedule routine dental visits

• Ask your child’s dentist about dental sealants. The protective sealants help to prevent decay

In case you suspect your child has a cavity, take them for a dental checkup immediately. Indeed, family dentistry also covers diagnosis and treatment of cavities in children.

Should I Be Brushing My Child’s Teeth with Fluoride?
Fluoride can help to prevent cavities and reverse early signs of tooth decay. While the mineral is generally recognized as safe, babies and children need less fluoride than adults. Normally, children develop the ability to spit at around age three. As such, experts recommend that children younger than three years old use fluoride toothpaste in an amount the size of a grain of rice, while those between three and six years old should use at most a pea-sized amount of fluoride toothpaste. However, you can consider fluoride-free toothpaste if you are concerned about the mineral. Our experts in children’s dentistry will be happy to advise you further during your regular visits.

How Often Should My Child Come in for a Cleaning and Exam?
After the first appointment, children should go to the dentist at least once every six months. This allows for proper dental care which may entail a dental exam, teeth cleaning, teeth x-rays and fluoride treatment. During the dental visits, children’s dentistry experts will address any oral health problems before they become more serious.