As kids enter early childhood, their worlds begin to open up. Preschool kids want more independence, exploration, and all the answers to what seems like endless questions. Still, what can parents do to optimize their preschooler’s oral health? Dr. Heba Rashed and her kids dental team have extensive training for handling the emotional, social, and wellness needs of preschoolers aged 3 to 5 years.
Common Oral Health Concerns and Habits From 3 to 5 Years
During this tender age, one common question we get from parents is, “If baby teeth are going to fall out eventually, why are they so important?” By this time, your child should have all of their baby teeth.
Although small, baby teeth are mighty! Primary (baby) teeth play an important role in facial development, speech, and the eruption of adult teeth. Because baby teeth are vital, we strongly suggest taking care of them as well as possible. Here are some common subjects that we’ll go over at your preschooler’s next kids dentistry appointment:
Cavity Prevention
As preschoolers gain more self-sufficiency, they must be mindful of their diet and oral hygiene habits. While it might seem like your preschooler is a bottomless pit for snacks, keep an eye on what they are eating and drinking.
If your child has a sweet tooth, they might reach for candy, juice, and other sticky, sugary treats. While these are ok in moderation, too many (and not effectively cleaning the teeth) can lead to dental decay. Ensure that your preschoolers make wise choices and that you assist them with gently flossing and brushing their teeth twice a day.
Thumb Sucking and Pacifier Use
Does your child still suck their thumb or use a pacifier? Although this is a standard (and sometimes even healthy) behavior in infants, holding onto sucking habits after two years of age is problematic. Prolonged thumb sucking and pacifier use can lead to flared teeth, bite problems, and narrow dental arches.
Not only can this eventually become uncomfortable for kids and impact their self-esteem, crowded teeth are significantly harder to clean. Therefore, patients with crowded teeth have a higher risk of developing tooth decay, gum disease, and other oral health issues.
Dental Injuries and Emergency Dental Appointment
Children under the age of five are pretty adventurous, athletic, and energetic—but this newfound moxie can result in dental injuries. If this sounds all too familiar, save our phone number in your phone, 703-688-2155.
Emergency dental appointments are all too common amongst kids of this age. If your child accidentally chips or cracks their tooth after climbing, running, or jumping, Dr. Rashed will strive to meet with you on the same day as the incident.
Creating Consistency
If you pencil in consistent homework, meal, or bedtime schedules, you’ve probably already noticed that most kids thrive in routine. Consistency is a choice, and every time you and your child walk into our doors, he or she can expect to be warmly greeted by the same friendly faces of Dr. Rashed and see her team plus a well-manicured lobby and treatment areas. We’ll go over the same general routines, which include stating clear, kid-friendly expectations before the treatment, valuing their voice (no matter how small), and learning new tactics to keep their teeth and gums healthy.
Infant Dental Visit in Lorton, VA
Although the adage is “ignorance is bliss,” we don’t agree with this sentiment regarding your child’s health. Many parents don’t know what they don’t know, and caring for a baby isn’t always intuitive.
There’s plenty of misinformation regarding children’s health on the internet, and we believe it’s more sensible to see a children’s dentist in Lorton like Dr. Rasheed rather than sifting through the potentially distorted truth regarding your baby’s oral health.
The bottom line is that delaying the first dental visit is a gamble on your child’s oral and overall health. Book baby’s first dental appointment by calling (703)-688-2155 or messaging us online.
Petite Stories
My experience at Petite Smiles Dentistry with Dr. Heba Rashed exceeded my expectations. The clinic itself was beautifully designed with a child-friendly atmosphere, creating a relaxing environment. It was evident that they catered to their patients and the attention to detail was remarkable.
Brittany D.
So glad my kids first dental experience was at Petite Smiles! I have 4-year-old triplets and each one was so comfortable at the clinic. The entire Petite Smiles team was incredibly warm and welcoming. They engaged with my kids, which really helped them feel comfortable throughout their cleaning and checks. And Dr. Rashed was awesome - very knowledgeable, thorough, and communicative throughout the visit.
Fairuz M
I'm absolutely thrilled to share our wonderful experience with Petite Smiles Pediatric Dentistry. From the moment we stepped into their clinic, we were greeted with warm smiles and a friendly atmosphere that immediately put my children at ease. They even had a board with their names welcoming them in! It’s so important to create such a positive environment for children where they could be nervous…