As parents and accomplished dentists, Aaron Sauer, DDS, and Whitney Marsh, DMD, of Sauer Dentistry understand the importance of kids' dental health and working with families to establish dental routines and preventive care.
“Introducing children to the dental office at a young age helps them become more comfortable, build good habits and catch dental problems early on,” explains Dr. Sauer. “Preventive care is crucial for developing teeth. It can help minimize dental cavities and prevent tooth loss, as well as address speech impediments and malocclusions.”
The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry and the American Academy of Pediatrics recommend that children start seeing a dentist as soon as they have teeth, or no later than 1 year of age.
Dr. Sauer says, “Dental visits become less intimidating when kids start early. Children who become familiar with the dental environment from an early age are often more comfortable and cooperative during future appointments, reducing anxiety and fear.”
When children visit the dentist at a young age, the sights, sounds, smells and routines of the office become familiar rather than mysterious. “Repeated positive interactions with dental professionals help children develop confidence that the people caring for them are safe, predictable and supportive," adds Dr. Marsh. "Early visits often involve simple, noninvasive experiences like counting teeth, taking pictures and learning how to brush. These early visits create a foundation for kids.”
Both dentists work with parents to establish healthy eating patterns from the beginning and limit exposure to sugary foods and drinks. Dr. Marsh also educates parents to encourage kids to drink water between meals rather than juice or other sugary beverages, and to avoid letting children fall asleep with bottles containing milk, juice or other sugar-based liquids.
“We want parents to make brushing part of predictable morning and bedtime routines,” instructs Dr. Sauer. “Begin cleaning an infant's gums with a soft, damp cloth even before teeth erupt. Then, once the first tooth appears, use a soft-bristle toothbrush and smear a rice-grain-sized amount of fluoride toothpaste onto it. For kids aged 3-6, increase to a pea-sized amount of fluoride toothpaste. Until kids develop good dexterity, it’s important for parents to check their brushing to ensure it's done well. We also encourage parents to teach kids to spit and not swallow the toothpaste to support appropriate fluoride use while helping them become more independent with oral hygiene.”
Parents can help establish brushing as less of a chore and more of a routine by choosing a special toothbrush, using kid-friendly toothpaste, offering incentives to build healthy habits and staying positive.
Sauer Dentistry in Greenwood is a family dental office providing state-of-the-art technology for general and cosmetic dental services. General dental procedures cover routine check-ups, cleaning and fillings, while more advanced procedures such as crowns, bridges, root canals and extractions also are available. Cosmetic dental options feature veneers and Invisalign.
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“Tooth decay is preventable. Regular checkups, fluoride guidance and dietary counseling reduce children’s risk for a common, chronic childhood disease," explains Dr. Sauer.