Frequently Asked Questions
Can parents stay with their child during the appointment?
We invite you to stay with your child during the initial examination.
During future appointments, we suggest you allow your child to accompany our staff through the dental experience. We can usually establish a closer rapport with your child when you are not present.
Our purpose is to gain your child’s confidence and overcome apprehension. However, if you choose, you are more than welcome to accompany your child to the treatment room. For the safety and privacy of all patients, other children who are not being treated should remain in the reception room with a supervising adult.
Frequently Asked Questions Regarding Diet & Cavity Prevention
- How do I know if my child is getting the appropriate amount of fluoride in their diet?
If you are not living in a community that has fluoride already added to the water, your child may need some fluoride to supplement their diet. We can help you determine how much your child needs based upon their weight, age, current water fluoride level, and type of toothpaste.
- What is an appropriate diet for my child?
It is important that your child consumes a well balanced diet in order to grow. This diet should consist of the major food groups of meat/fish/eggs, vegetable/fruit, bread/cereal in addition to milk and other dairy products.
- Can my child’s diet affect their dental health?
Absolutely. It is important that you feed your child a balanced diet so that their teeth develop properly. This will also have a positive affect on healthy gum tissue surrounding the teeth. Diets high in sugar and other types of carbohydrates can increase the probability of tooth decay.
- How do I create a diet that is safe for my child’s teeth?
Determine how often starch-based foods are eaten (breads, crackers, potato chips, etc). These are a type of sugar, and sugar is found in more than just candy. All types of sugars can promote tooth decay. Also, be cautious with food that is sticky (granola bars, fruit snacks, dried fruit, etc.) Foods that stick to teeth get stuck in the grooves and in between your teeth and cause decay.
- Should I eliminate all sugar and starch from my child’s diet?
No. Sugar and starch are important to a child’s health, but are much safer for teeth when consumed with a meal.
- What helpful information can you give me regarding tooth decay in infants?
The important thing is, do not nurse your child to sleep and do not put them to bed with a bottle of milk, juice, or formula. As a child sleeps, any liquid in the mouth can become a breeding ground for bacteria that produce acid and decay the teeth. A pacifier or bottle of water is fine.