Maintaining your child's oral health now will provide health benefits well into adulthood, as primary (baby) teeth serve some extremely important functions.
Primary teeth guide permanent teeth, holding the space for these new teeth to eventually arrive. The crowns of the permanent teeth push against the roots of the baby teeth, causing them to resorb. This process allows the adult teeth to take their place.
For about the first six years, primary teeth help with biting, chewing and speaking. Beginning around age 6, your child will have a mix of primary and permanent teeth. We will monitor your child’s oral health to ensure these teeth stay healthy and are lost in a timely manner.
Your child's 20 baby teeth will begin to appear usually between six and nine months, though it may start as early as three months or as late as twelve months. The two lower front teeth tend to show up first, followed by the two upper ones. To help your child with discomfort from teething, we recommend wiping your child’s gums and newly arriving teeth with a water-soaked gauze pad or damp washcloth.
The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry recommends that children see a dentist by their first birthday to ensure all is progressing well. Early childhood caries (tooth decay) can develop rapidly, progressing from the hard, outer enamel layer of a tooth into the softer, inner dentin in six months or less.
As soon as the first tooth grows in, we encourage you to establish a daily brushing routine with a small, soft-bristled toothbrush and a smear of fluoridated toothpaste about the size of a grain of rice. When your child is able to rinse and spit out, we recommend a pea-sized amount of toothpaste. Your child may need your help with this important task until about the age of 7 to 8.
We offer a variety of dental treatments to prevent tooth decay in children, or to save or repair teeth.
Braces that blend in with your teeth — with color match technology!
These braces work just like their traditional counterparts, but blend in with your teeth. Using a tooth colored ceramic material, your braces will be less visible to people around you. At Smile Fresh, we use the latest heat-activated wires to make your treatment as efficient and comfortable as possible!
A resin coating can be professionally applied to prevent cavities by sealing the chewing surfaces.
We offer many options to restore the form and function of your child’s teeth. Our state-of-the-art dental materials can easily protect and maintain your child’s teeth. All treatment options are thoroughly discussed prior to your child’s appointment.
A cavity-fighting liquid that is easily applied to help stop tooth decay. Silver diamine fluoride is especially useful in young children who are not mature enough to handle restorative care. The application only requires 1 minute and does not require any drilling.
Call 626.775.5118 today or click below to request an appointment online.
626 S. Primrose Ave.
Monrovia, CA 91016
