Pediatric Dentistry In Livermore

The most important part of any child’s first visit is getting to know the dentist and staff, so that your child feels comfortable and at home in our office. We strive to build trust with our patients, so your kids feel comfortable and at ease every time they come in. When possible, we allow the child to sit on their parent’s lap, which we find puts them further at ease. We encourage any and all questions, and we’re happy to answer them.

We recommend seeing the dentist every 6 months. That way we can ensure your child’s teeth are healthy and coming in properly.

Yes! Primary teeth are important for several reasons. Good primary teeth allow a child to eat properly and maintain good nutrition. They encourage clear pronunciation and help build proper speech habits early on. Having good, healthy teeth at a young age builds confidence and encourages happy, smiling kids. Primary teeth also guide the eruption of the permanent teeth when they come in, allowing for better teeth alignment.

A child’s teeth begin to form before birth. As early as 4 months of age, the primary or “baby” teeth begin to push through the gums, starting with the lower, central incisors, followed by the upper. The remainder of the twenty primary teeth typically come in by age 3. Around age 6, the permanent teeth begin to come in, starting with the first molars and lower central incisors. This process continues until around age 21.

When teething occurs, gums are sore and tender. Rubbing sore gums gently with a clean finger, the back of a cold spoon, or a cold, wet cloth helps soothe the gums. Teething rings also work well, but avoid teething biscuits as they contain sugar that is not good for baby teeth.

Each time a child drinks liquid containing sugar, acids attack their teeth for about 20 minutes. When awake, saliva carries the liquid away. During sleep, however, the saliva flow significantly decreases, causing liquids to pool and coat the teeth in acid for long periods of time. This is what leads to decay.

Luckily, tooth decay in infants can be minimized and, in some cases, totally prevented by not allowing sleeping infants to breast or bottle-feed. Infants that need a bottle to fall asleep should be given a bottle filled with water or a pacifier instead. With pediatric dentistry in Livermore, we’re dedicated to fighting baby bottle tooth decay. Let us know if you notice any signs of decay or anything unusual in your child’s mouth, and we’ll be happy to take a look.