Early Dental Treatment
Whole-Family Dentistry in Macon, GA
Every child deserves a beautiful smile that lasts a lifetime. At MaconSmiles, our mission is to help each of our patients achieve that goal through convenient, comfortable pediatric dental care. As a leading family dentist in Macon, GA, Dr. Shah is committed to providing holistic pediatric dental treatments that help patients achieve a great smile over the long term.
Your Child's First Visit
Your first appointment with us is an exciting time, as it's the start of your child's journey towards a healthy smile. We recommend patients bring their children for an initial appointment at age 1. Normally, we won't perform any procedures short of a simple dental exam at this appointment. Your child's first dental appointment is mostly a chance for us to get to know each other and to familiarize them with the dentist's office and the process of dental care.
Why Do Baby Teeth Matter?
While baby teeth eventually fall out, they're still vital for your child's dental development and it's important to keep them healthy and strong. Here are just a few of the roles that baby teeth play in dental development:
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Learning to speak correctly
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Chewing food
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Guiding the permanent teeth into place
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Promoting healthy jaw development
- Boosting self-esteem through a beautiful smile
While we strive to protect baby teeth, in some cases they need to come out prematurely. If this happens to your child, we'll need to use a space maintainer to protect the alignment of their teeth and ensure the permanent teeth erupt correctly.
Preventing Baby Bottle Decay
One of the major threats to early dental health is baby bottle decay, a special kind of tooth decay that can affect infants. You can recognize baby bottle decay through spots, lines, or areas of the teeth that look dull or whiter than normal. You can do the following to prevent baby bottle decay and protect your child's teeth:
- Never let your child sleep with a bottle of milk in their mouth (pacifiers and bottles of water are ok)
- Examine your child's teeth every two weeks for signs of decay
- Breastfeed your child when sleeping to avoid the use of a bottle
Diet & Pediatric Dental Health
In addition to factors like oral hygiene and professional pediatric dental care, your child's diet has a significant impact on their dental health. Foods high in sugars, carbs, or acids can attack teeth and cause decay over time, and the problem is made worse because baby teeth aren't as resistant to decay as permanent teeth. Try to avoid feeding your child snacks like candy, chips, or other forms of junk food, as these contain sugars and carbs that eat away at tooth enamel. Instead, opt for healthier choices like fruits and vegetables, yogurt, or low-fat cheeses. All of these foods help promote strong teeth and a healthy body, working to protect your child's smile in the long-term.
Reserve Your Appointment with Your Macon Family Dentist
A great smile starts from your child's very first appointment at age 1 - and if you're ready to schedule your child's initial appointment or next checkup, we'd love to hear from you. Give us a call at (478) 757-8714 with any questions about pediatric dental care, or go ahead and request an appointment online using our convenient form. We're excited to help your child achieve a healthy, beautiful smile that lasts a lifetime!
