FAQ and Tips

Healthy Teeth Beautiful Smile
7282 Oswego Road 
Liverpool, New York 13090
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Healthy Teeth Beautiful Smile
7282 Oswego Road 
Liverpool, New York 13090
Healthy Teeth Beautiful Smile
Located in Liverpool, NY
Request An Appointment Get Directions Get Directions Get Directions
Pediatric Dentistry

Read Some Pediatric Dentistry FAQS

The Kid's Dentist has compiled a list of tips and frequently asked questions to help you maximize your child’s oral health. Our family owned and operated dental practice has been meeting the needs of developing mouths for 35 years.

Dental Care FAQs

What should I use to clean my baby's teeth?
A toothbrush removes plaque bacteria that can lead to decay. Any soft-bristled toothbrush with a small head, preferably one designed specifically for infants, should be used at least once a day at bedtime.

When should I take my child to the dentist for the first check-up?
To prevent dental problems, your child should see The Kid's Dentist when their first tooth appears or no later than their first birthday.

What is the difference between a pediatric dentist and a family dentist?
Pediatric dentists are the pediatricians of dentistry. A pediatric dentist has two to three years of specialty training following dental school and limits their practice to treating children. Pediatric dentists are primary and specialty oral care providers for infants and children through adolescence, including those with special health needs.

Are baby teeth really that important to my child?
Primary, or "baby," teeth are important for many reasons. They help children speak clearly and chew naturally and also aid in the formation of a path that permanent teeth follow when they are ready to erupt.

What should I do if my child has a toothache?
First, rinse the irritated area with warm salt water and place a cold compress on the face if it is swollen. Give your child acetaminophen for pain, rather than placing Orajel on the teeth and gums. Finally, call The Kid's Dentist as soon as possible.

Are thumb sucking and pacifier habits harmful for a child's teeth?
Thumb and pacifier-sucking habits become a problem when they go on for a very long time. Most children stop these habits on their own, but if they are still sucking their thumbs or fingers past the age of three, we may recommend a mouth appliance. 

How can I prevent decay caused by nursing?
Avoid nursing children to sleep or putting anything other than water in their bed-time bottle. Also, learn the proper way to brush and floss your child's teeth. Bring your child to The Kid's Dentist regularly to have their teeth and gums checked. The first dental visit should be scheduled by your child's first birthday.

How often does my child need to see the pediatric dentist?
A check-up with The Kid's Dentist is recommended every six months in order to prevent cavities and other dental problems. However, we can tell you when and how often your child should visit based on their personal oral health.

Toothpaste: when should we begin using it and how much should we use?
Starting at birth, you should clean your child's gums with a soft infant toothbrush or cloth and water. As soon as the teeth begin to appear, you must start brushing your child’s teeth twice daily using fluoridated toothpaste and a soft, age-appropriate sized toothbrush. Use a "smear" of toothpaste to brush the teeth of a child less than 2 years of age.

For the 2-5 year old, dispense a pea-size amount of toothpaste and assist your child with brushing. Remember that young children do not have the ability to brush their teeth effectively. Children should spit out and not swallow excess toothpaste after brushing.


How do I make my child's diet safe for his teeth?
Make sure your child eats a balanced diet. They should have one serving each of fruits and vegetables, breads and cereals, milk and dairy products, and meat fish and eggs. Limit servings of sugars and starches to protect your child's teeth from decay. You can also ask us for advice on selecting foods that protect your children's teeth.

How do dental sealants work?
Sealants work by filling in the crevasses on the chewing surfaces of the teeth. This shuts out food particles that could get caught in your child's teeth, causing cavities. Sealant application is fast and comfortable and can effectively protect your child's teeth for many years.

How do I know if my child is getting enough fluoride?
Let The Kid's Dentist evaluate the fluoride level of your child's primary source of drinking water. If your child is not getting enough fluoride internally through water (especially if the fluoride level is deficient or if your child drinks bottled water without fluoride), then we may prescribe fluoride supplements.

What can I do to protect my child's teeth during sporting events?
Soft plastic mouthguards can be used to protect your child's teeth, lips, cheeks and gums from sport related injuries. A custom-fitted mouthguard from The Kid's Dentist will protect your child from injuries to the teeth, face and provide additional protection from severe injuries to the head.

What should I do if my child falls and knocks out a permanent tooth?
The most important thing to do is to remain calm. Then find the tooth. Hold it by the crown rather than the root and try to reinsert it in the socket. If that is not possible, put the tooth in a glass of milk and take your child and the glass immediately to The Kid's Dentist.

How safe are dental X-rays?
There is very little risk in dental X-rays. At The Kid's Dentist we are especially careful to limit the amount of radiation to which children are exposed. Lead aprons and high-speed film are used to ensure safety and minimize the amount of radiation.

How can parents help prevent tooth decay?
Bring your child into see The Kid's Dentist beginning with the eruption of their first tooth. Then, we can recommend a specific program of brushing, flossing, and other treatments for you to supervise and teach to their children. These home treatments, when added to regular dental visits and a balanced diet, will help give your child a lifetime of healthy habits.

Whitening Toothpaste Advice

Whitening toothpastes have polishing agents and mild abrasives that help remove surface stains from teeth. Deeper stains can't be eliminated with whitening toothpastes. If you decide to use a whitening toothpaste, make sure the toothpaste contains fluoride along with whitening agents.

If your child has deeper, darker stains on their teeth due to injuries or certain medications, a more thorough brightening treatment, such as bleaching or microabrasion, might be required.
Tooth-Brushing Tips for child

Pediatric Dentistry for Teens

At The Kid's Dentist, we are able to meet the special needs of teens and adolescents. Teens experience important growth in their faces and jaws and are also getting the last of their permanent teeth. The teeth that have just come through the gums are especially vulnerable to decay.

Because teenagers start to become responsible for their own diet and nutrition choices, it's important that those choices come from a solid foundation of dental health.
Tooth-Brushing Tips for child

Your Child and Cheese

Recent research shows cheese is one of the healthiest snacks for your child's teeth. Cheese provides large amounts of calcium and also helps fight cavities. The calcium and phosphorous that are found in cheese reduce acids that weaken teeth and lead to decay.

Tooth-Brushing Tips

Proper brushing in one of the easiest methods of cavity prevention. When choosing a manual toothbrush for your child, look for one with round-ended, polished bristles that clean and are also gentle on the gums. Toothbrushes with large handles will help your child to control the toothbrush better.

Be sure to brush your preschooler's teeth and supervise the brushing and flossing of school-age children until they are 7 to 8 years of age.

The AAPD recommends using only soft-bristled toothbrushes. Throw out toothbrushes when the bristles are frayed. Replace toothbrushes at least every 3 months.

Start the School Year Off Right

It is estimated that students miss more than 51 million school hours per year because of dental problems or related conditions. Children and adolescents with healthy teeth have better attendance, are more attentive in class, and are able to participate more fully in school-related activities.

You can help prevent oral-health-related absences by teaching your child to floss once a day and to brush twice with a fluoride toothpaste. Limit your child's ntake of sugary or starchy snacks and visit The Kid's Dentist twice a years for oral health assessments. 

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