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Dental Questions To Ask Your Childs Dentist

In this article we cover the top 10 questions to ask your childs dentist. Incidentally they are also some of the most common questions pediatric dentists get asked. Our pediatric dental office receives questions all the time from parents. In many cases, parents are seeing a pediatric dentist for the very first time and don’t know the right questions to even ask.

It’s Normal For Parents To Ask Questions

It’s normal that parents have questions for their childs dentist. The uncertainty of not knowing can keep you up at night. Knowing a problem exists gives parents the power to get ahead of dental issues before they become serious problems. Questions pertaining to dental care and hygiene are quite common. We provide answers to some of the most common questions parents ask their childs dentist.

Most Common Questions Parents Ask The Dentist

It’s common to have questions for your child’s dentist. So watch this helpful video that discusses the most common questions parents ask the dentist. You’ll be better prepared for your childs next dental visit and know just what to ask to keep your child’s good dental hygiene on track.

Top 10 Questions Parents Ask The Dentist

  1. What Toothpaste Should My Child Be Using and How Much?
  2. Will You Show My Child How To Brush Their Teeth?
  3. When Should My Child’s Baby Teeth Come In?
  4. When Should My Child Begin Flossing?
  5. How Do I Get My Child To Stop Sucking Their Thumb?
  6. When Should My Child Have Their First X-Ray?
  7. When Should My Child Start Using a Fluoride Toothpaste & Mouthwash?
  8. Does my child have shark teeth, what are they?
  9. What Do I Do If My Child Has A Chipped Tooth?
  10. Is There Enough Space In My Child’s Mouth For Adult Teeth?

1. What Toothpaste Should My Child Be Using and How Much?

Pediatric dentist Dr. Roger Hennigh says “Because children under 6 tend to swallow more toothpaste than they actually use, I’d recommend a low fluoride toothpaste for younger kids” (such as Colgate Sparkling Mint Gel ages 2-6).

2. Will You Show My Child How To Brush Their Teeth?

Learning how to brush your teeth at a young age will establish good dental habits for a lifetime. Pediatric dentists and oral hygienists are well versed in demonstrating tooth brushing techniques to children. We will teach your child how to brush their teeth properly.

3. When Should My Child’s Baby Teeth Come In?

“Every child’s teeth erupt at different times” says Pediatric Oral Surgeon Dr. Herschel L. Jones. “If your child still has baby teeth after age 9 then its worth getting an x-ray to see if adult teeth exist underneath the gums,” says Jones. “There are some rare cases, where children only have one set of certain teeth, and therefore there are no baby teeth present in an xray.”

4. When Should My Child Begin Flossing?

If there are no visibile gaps between a child’s teeth, typically they may begin flossing. It’s worth asking your child’s dentist on your next visit if you feel it’s an appropriate time for them to learn how to floss.

5. How Do I Get My Child To Stop Sucking Their Thumb?

It is widely known that thumbsucking and using a pacifier can often lead to children developing crooked teeth. Dr. Hennigh says, “Most children stop stucking their thumb between ages 2-4”. “There are all sorts of devices that help children break the habit” says Dr. Hennigh “but what I’ve found works best is simply talking to the child about it and consistently watching for the behavior”.

6. When Should My Child Have Their First Dental X-Rays?

“In most cases dental xrays aren’t needed until after age 5 unless there has been some sort of trauma” says Dr. Alan Golden. “From age 7 on we’ll want to start routine dental xrays to examine dental development and any potential areas that require attention” says Pediatric Dentist – Dr. Alvin Amante. Many parents have concerns over their child receiving dental xrays. Digital dental xrays are very safe and help dentists see things that are not apparent during a routine dental examination.

7. When Can My Child Start Using A Fluoride Toothpaste & Mouthwash?

At around ages 5 to 6 your child should be able to rinse and spit. You can begin experimenting using a low fluoride toothpaste and mouthwash. “We recommend that children use a mouthwash too” says Pediatric Oral Surgeon Dr. Herschel L. Jones. “in many instances children have overlapping teeth a toothbrush just can’t reach.”

8. What Are Shark Teeth And Does My Child Have Them?

Shark Teeth is a term used when adult teeth come in before the baby teeth have fallen out. “In rare cases the roots of a baby tooth don’t dissolve or the position of erupting adult teeth isn’t right under the baby tooth where it should be” says Pediatric Dentist Dr. Roger Hennigh.

When the baby tooth finally comes out the position of the adult tooth will be evaluated. In most cases this requires no treatment as the adult tooth frequently settles into the correct position all on it’s own. In some cases however, orthodontic intervention (braces or a retainer) will be required to correct the position of teeth.

9. What Do I Do If My Child Has A Chipped Tooth?

“If your child has chipped a tooth, we’d advise that you schedule a visit with us as soon as possible so that we can evaluate the severity of the ‘chip’ or fracture,” Dr. Alan Golden says. “Frequently we just file or smooth the rough edge, but there are cases  when it may need to be repaired or bonded.” says Golden.

Dr. Jones adds, “If your child has a large fracture and the nerve of their tooth is exposed, the tooth might need to be removed. Treatment all depends on whether it’s an adult tooth or a baby tooth and if the child is in any pain”.

10. Is There Enough Space In My Childs Mouth For Adult Teeth?

The priamry cause of crooked teeth in adults is due to overcrowding in the mouth. “We can anticipate this before the adult teeth fully come through in children.” says Dr. Hennigh. “A palate expander can be introduced to make room for overcrowding teeth”.


What if I have questions that aren’t on this top 10 questions list?

This list isn’t mean to answer every single dental question a parent might ask. If you have a question for us that isn’t on this top 10 questions list, feel free to contact us to schedule an appointment. We’d be happy to examine your child and answer any questions you might have about their dental development. Our dental practice has offices in Burke, and Woodbridge. We provide emergency dental care services for adults and children. Our friendly staff is available to answer any dental questions you have.

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