Caring for a child’s teeth and gums is just as important as caring for the rest of their body. While pediatricians are trained to care for a child’s overall health needs, pediatric dentists are trained to care for a child’s unique dental needs. After a dentist completes dental school, they then continue their education for up to three years to become a pediatric dentist. In addition to learning how to care for baby teeth and a child’s growing jaw, they also learn how to communicate effectively with children. These skills reduce the anxiety level of children when they visit a pediatric dental office in Bellevue NE.
They also help parents learn how to care for a child’s teeth. Teething can be painful for the baby and very frustrating for the parents. It can go on for several years, which adds to the frustration. Babies begin to get their teeth from six to twelve months. This process can continue until the child is about three years old. During this time, it is common for the child’s gums to be sore and tender. A Dental Office in Bellevue NE, that has a pediatric dentist can reassure the parents that they doing everything they can to help their toddler through this period.
Providing the child with a cool object to chew on often helps them cope with the pain. Teething rings are made for this purpose, but rubbing a cool finger or spoon along the gums can also help a frustrated toddler. However, the doctor will counsel against using teething biscuits. These are made with sugar and can cause tooth early tooth decay. Parents may be surprised to learn that the smallest children have to worry about cavities. This is often referred to as baby bottle decay. Infants and toddlers often soothe themselves to sleep with a bottle. Parents may want to treat the child by putting a small bit of sugar in the water or letting a baby have formula while they sleep. Both of these seemingly innocent substances can cause tooth decay. Pediatric dentists suggest that only water be placed in the bottle that a child takes to bed. Following these instructions help the child have healthy baby teeth, which helps their jaw develop normally.
