Your child's dental healthcare is important. Taking care of your kid's teeth and teaching children to care for their teeth is vital. Here at 
Hunting Hills Family Dentistry, your Roanoke, VA, pediatric dentist can help you.
Dental Care After Birth
After giving birth to your child, you should wipe their gums with a moist washcloth or gauze. Once your baby's first tooth erupts, decay can occur. The first tooth usually pushes through gums when your baby is about six months old, but don't worry if it takes up to 12 or 14 months.
Brushing Your Child's Teeth
Until your child is able to brush their teeth, you should do so for them. Brush their teeth twice a day with a child-size toothbrush with toothpaste. Once two teeth are adjacent to each other, you have to clean between them to prevent decay.
Children Brushing Their Own Teeth
Your Roanoke pediatric dentist advises that your children start brushing their own teeth by the time they are three years old. Children usually have a full set of teeth by the time they're three. From ages three to six they'll use no more than a smear of toothpaste and you will need to supervise them to ensure they are brushing correctly.
Child's First Dental Appointment
The American Dental Association recommends scheduling an appointment with a pediatric dentist when their first tooth erupts. Your dentist will examine your child's dental hygiene, growth and development.
Before the visit, make sure,
- Your child is well rested
- To keep any concerns to yourself since children can pickup on them and become anxious
- To speak positively about dental visits and avoid speaking about them in a negative context
- You talk with your child about visiting the dentist
For any questions or concerns regarding your child's hygiene, call your dentists at Hunting Hills Family Dentistry in Roanoke, VA.