Dentistry for Infants – San Luis Obispo, CA
Helping Young Smiles Grow
At Coastal Pediatric Dentistry, Dr. Forester and Dr. Kristine are board-certified pediatric dentists who take great care to ensure the health and future of young smiles. When seeing infants for the first time, it is our job to not only create a calming and compassionate environment for little ones but also serve as experts who are ready to answer questions and address the concerns of every parent. Because baby teeth are prone to developing tooth decay and cavities early on, we will make every effort to put children on the right path as early as possible. As a parent, you can count on us to provide general checkups, cleanings, and fluoride treatment, as well as offer helpful tips to manage your child’s oral health and forgo non-nutritive habits. We can even perform frenectomies or frenuloplasties to ensure optimal oral function if a lip or tongue tie exists. Contact us today to schedule an appointment with a pediatric dentist in San Luis Obispo.
Oral Health Risk Assessment
During your child’s first appointment, which should occur once their first tooth erupts or by the time they turn one, we will perform a checkup and cleaning to ensure their smile is developing as it should. With a gentle movement, we will remove any plaque or bacteria from inside the mouth to make sure their teeth and gums are healthy. We’ll also provide tips and suggestions to help you maintain your little one’s smile at home. This might include how to wipe their gums and clean their teeth. When cleaning their oral tissues, a clean, wet washcloth can be used to wipe the gums clean. To effectively clean teeth, use a finger or soft-bristled toothbrush with a smear of fluoridated toothpaste (the size of a grain of rice).
Teething
Every baby goes through the teething process, which is not only hard on them but parents as well. As teeth push through the gums, it can cause fussiness, irritability, lack of appetite, and difficulty sleeping. If you are a new parent, you may be surprised to see just how much your little one drools during this time. Because teeth typically start erupting around 6 months of age, it’s important that you be aware of the teething signs as well as how to curb discomfort. Our team at Coastal Pediatric Dentistry is here to provide the essential tips you need to create a more relaxing and soothing experience for your baby.
Non-Nutritive Habits
It is not uncommon to see babies sucking their thumbs or using a pacifier. Providing comfort in times of distress and concern, these habits are typically harmless at this age. However, if allowed to continue once they become toddlers or reach school-age, these non-nutritive habits can wreak havoc on their developing smiles. As a dentist for infants in San Luis Obispo, Dr. Forester or Dr. Kristine can provide methods and techniques to curb these habits without causing too much stress for your child. Working alongside you and your child, we can establish a game plan to help your little one turn to healthier comfort mechanisms that won’t negatively impact their smile.
Lip & Tongue Tie
If you begin to notice that your baby is having trouble latching while breastfeeding or has difficulty taking a bottle, you may want to check to see if they have what is known as a lip or tongue tie. If the frenulum, which is the band of tissue located behind the upper lip or beneath the tongue, is restricted and thick, this can hinder your child’s ability to eat, speak, and maintain good oral health as they grow older. Fortunately, at Coastal Pediatric Dentistry, we are pleased to provide treatment for this particular problem using a soft tissue laser. With a quick and easy frenectomy or frenuloplasty, we can release the banded tissue and give your child the oral function they need.
Fluoride Treatment
As a natural mineral most commonly found in toothpaste and public drinking water, fluoride is used by dental professionals throughout the country to safeguard smiles of all ages. Fluoride encourages “remineralization” or strengthening of teeth to prevent cavities. It is recommended to brush your child’s teeth with fluoridated toothpaste two times a day (just a smear is sufficient for children under 3 years old). Additionally, we can apply a topical fluoride varnish at your child’s regular six-month visit to ensure they are getting an adequate amount of fluoride. Not only is it fast, but it’s also completely painless and will better protect your child from tooth decay, as well as strengthen enamel in-between appointments.