The only specialist children's dentist in Merseyside and The Wirral
Under the direction of Sondos Albadri, our specialist children’s dentist, our paediatric service is unrivaled in the North West. It is common practice in Europe and the USA for children to be seen by a paediatric specialist. The UK is lagging behind in this area, which is why The Sandstone Dental Practice offers dedicated children’s dental services.
When to take your child for their first dental check-up
Children in the UK still have high rates of decay and gum disease – and one of the reasons is that parents are not aware that they should take their children to the dentist. We recommend that parents bring their babies to Sunlight Dental Practice when those milk teeth emerge – or by the age of one regardless. A great deal of progress has been made in addressing the lack of awareness surrounding children’s dentistry thanks to the British Society for Paediatric Dentistry’s DCBy1 (Dental Check By Age 1) campaign. Even though you may not realize it, milk teeth are just as important as adult teeth!
FAQs
We appreciate that knowing when to bring your kids to the dentist can be confusing, so we’ve put together a list of our patients most frequently asked questions for your convenience.
Even if they haven’t got any teeth, we recommend that all children are seen by a dentist before their first birthday, and this can be as simple as bringing them with you during your own check-up. This will not only eliminate any potential risks, but also establishes the dentist as a familiar and fun place to be.
As soon as those milk teeth come through! Even babies can start getting used to the idea of brushing, and the earlier you give them a toothbrush, the more likely they are to comply with oral hygiene in the future. As more teeth come through, brush regularly and then encourage them to attempt their own brushing while you supervise. From birth to 3 years, use a flat smear of adult toothpaste with at least 1000ppm (parts per million) of fluoride in it. After the age of 3, a small pea-sized amount can be used. Children learn good habits from watching what happens in the home, and you can set a good example by brushing and flossing your own teeth twice a day.
Sucking is a natural reflex in a young child and a dummy may be a useful aide to help soothe your baby. The important thing is never to dip the dummy in anything sweet and never use a dummy that has juice in it.
If your child reaches the age of 5 and still sucks their thumb or fingers habitually, it may be time to start gently discouraging them, as this is the age when intensive sucking can cause speech or orthodontic problems. Your dentist should be able to advise you on the best course of action.
Fluoride is a naturally occurring mineral that prevents cavities and is highly beneficial to teeth, which is why it’s routinely added to toothpaste. At The Sandstone Dental Practice we offer children fluoride varnish, a quick and completely painless procedure that is excellent for preventing child tooth decay.
Fissure sealants are often recommended when the permanent molars erupt, and consist of a plastic seal that is smoothed over the tooth surface, preventing food getting stuck in those hard-to-brush areas.