Without question, Dr. Brandon knew that one area of his new office space would be dedicated to what we fondly refer to as our “Children’s Corner.”  Designed and constructed entirely by Dr. Brandon’s wife, Charlotte, the Children’s Corner evolved from her imagination into a magnificent place for children to busy themselves and relax at the dental office.  Ours is a family dental practice, and our goal is to care for your children as we would our own.    

Your Child’s Teeth

A child’s primary teeth, sometimes called “baby teeth,” are as important as the permanent adult teeth.  Primary teeth, which often begin to appear when children are about 6 months old, help them chew and speak.  They also hold space in the jaws for permanent teeth that are developing under the gums.

Most children have a full set of 20 primary teeth by the age of 3 years.  The primary teeth generally begin to shed, or fall out, at about 6 years of age.  The first of the 32 permanent teeth begin to appear about the same time. 

Begin brushing your child’s teeth with a little water as soon as the first tooth appears. If you are considering using toothpaste before the child is 2 years of age, ask your dentist or physician first.
Supervise tooth brushing to make sure children older than 2 years of age use only a pea-sized amount of fluoride toothpaste and avoid swallowing it.  Children should be taught to spit out remaining toothpaste and rinse with water after brushing.  Most children will be able to brush on their own by the age of 6 or 7 years.  Parents should be using floss or an inter-dental cleaner on their children’s teeth as soon as any two teeth touch.  Brush your child’s teeth twice a day unless your dentist recommends otherwise.

What are Sealants?    
As the permanent molars appear, dental sealants may be recommended.  Sealants are a safe, painless, and low-cost way to help protect your child’s back teeth from decay.
 
A thin plastic coating (sealant) is bonded to the chewing surfaces of the molars.  The chewing surfaces of these back teeth have tiny grooves  (pits and fissures) that form as each tooth develops. This is where most decay occurs in children because the bristles of a toothbrush cannot reach into the grooves to remove the food and bacteria that are trapped. The sealant forms a hard protective barrier that keeps food and bacteria from getting into the fissures in the teeth.