It is recommended that children see a dentist as soon as their first milk teeth appear and visit regularly so that they become familiar with the building and the dental team. Their dentist can help prevent decay and identify any oral health problems at an early stage. Just opening up the child’s mouth for the dentist to take a look is useful practise for when they could benefit from future preventative care.

Prevention and advice on brushing techniques and diet will be provided to help reduce the need for treatment in the future. Fissure sealants can be provided once your child’s permanent back teeth have started to come through (usually at the age of about six or seven) to protect them from decay. This is where the chewing surfaces of the back teeth are covered with a special coating to keep germs and food particles out of the grooves. The sealant can last for as long as 5 to 10 years.

Fluoride varnish can be applied to both milk teeth and adult teeth. It involves painting a varnish that contains high levels of fluoride on to the surface of the tooth every six months to prevent decay. It works by strengthening tooth enamel, making it more resistant to decay.

Benefits of children’s dentistry from FHDC

We are registering children onto our special FHDC Child Membership Plan.
All children on our membership plan receive a 10% discount on any dental treatment required.
We understand children at FHDC.
We believe that ‘prevention is better than cure’.

FAQ’s

When should I start teaching my child about how to brush their teeth?

As soon as your child’s milk teeth are visible it is time to introduce them to cleaning their teeth. There are a variety of small, soft toothbrushes on the market that are ideal for this. Some even have bigger handles to make it easier for the child to hold on to. Use a pea sized amount of children’s toothpaste with fluoride levels of around 1000 ppm (parts per million) up until the age of six.

Brush regularly and encourage them to do their own brushing for two minutes with supervision from you. Children develop good habits from watching their parents so it’s good to let them see you brushing and flossing twice a day.

When should I take my child to the dentist?

Whilst your child should not need to see a dentist until their first milk teeth have emerged, at FHDC we always encourage you to bring your baby or toddler with you when you come for a check-up. This way they are familiar with the environment (sights, sounds & smells) of your dental practice form a very early age and are less likely to be bothered when it’s their turn for a check-up.

Is it ok to let my baby have a dummy?

Every child is different and they may have a natural instinct to suckle. A dummy is a useful way to sooth a baby but you should never dip it into anything sweet.

When do a baby’s teeth appear?

Most children have 20 baby or primary (or milk / baby teeth) which emerge from the age of about 6 months to two years old. Babies’ first teeth fall out gradually from the age of 3 and are replaced by permanent (or adult) teeth. Wisdom teeth, or third molars, are the last to emerge between the ages of 17 and 25. Most people will end up with 32 teeth.

Get in touch

To discuss how Far Headingley dental care can provide your children with excellent general dentistry and preventive care through regular dental check-ups and oral health advice, please complete the enquiry form on this page or call our practice on 0113 275 1323 during normal office hours.