Paediatric dentistry in San Sebastián

What is paediatric dentistry?

This is the branch of odontology responsible for preventing, diagnosing and treating oral problems in children aged between 6 months (when their milk teeth are starting to grow) and 12-14 years (when they have all of their permanent teeth). However, these ages are approximate since no two children are the same.

The first dental visit for children is advisable at 6-7 months old, even before they have their first teeth. Starting from that first visit, your dentist will establish a schedule of frequent visits to make sure that your child continues to enjoy good dental health.

Why go to a paediatric dentist?

The main problems dealt with by paediatric dentistry are:

Tooth decay

This can occur at any age, even during a child’s first year. This is the most common problem in children with both temporary and permanent teeth. Preventing tooth decay is very important. Children must take good care of their teeth and receive appropriate amounts of fluoride (in Gipuzkoa the water contains fluoride). It is important not to give them food with high sugar content, not to put juice or fruit in their feeding bottles (in case they fall asleep while eating or drinking), and not to coat their dummies in sugar or honey.

Traumatism

Children from the ages of 7 to 11 often suffer knocks to their teeth. If they still have their baby teeth the whole tooth may come out, while permanent teeth tend to break (usually the top two front teeth are the ones most affected). If a whole permanent tooth comes out, it can sometimes be re-implanted if you put it into milk and go immediately to your dentist with the child.

Grinding

This is normal in children. However, they should be taken to the dentist if they complain of sore muscles or teeth.

Correcting bad habits

When children are young, it is also common for them develop habits that may be harmful for their dental health in the long term. Sucking their thumb or dummy after the age of 2 or 3 is one of the things that we parents must try to stop them from doing to prevent our little ones from having problems with their teeth.

Oral hygiene in children

Children must clean their teeth from a very young age. When they only have one tooth, use a little piece of gauze with no toothpaste. A toothbrush can be used when more teeth start to grow in.

It is not advisable to use toothpaste until they are 2 or 3 years old.

You must use special toothpaste for children, which has less fluoride. This is because most children don’t rinse their mouths properly and tend to swallow toothpaste.

Ideally, children should brush their teeth two or three times a day. At first, however, they will be unable to correctly brush their teeth and it is therefore up to the parents to help them do it properly (brushing up and down, in front and behind the teeth, with circular movements on the surface of the molars).

Children must visit the dentist at least once a year.

We must also emphasise the importance of dental care in mothers-to-be, given that suffering a dental infection or disease while pregnant could affect your baby’s oral health.

Don’t hesitate to contact us if you’d like to know more.

You’ll find us at the Calle Ferrerías, 5, San Sebastian.