by ARCHANA ANTONY, DDS
It’s not easy, but somebody has to do it. If you have an infant, toddler, or school-aged child, chances are you’ve said this to yourself more than once when it comes to their oral care. We can not only relate, but we can help. Of our 12 convenient locations around Polk, Highlands, and Hardee counties, ten of them provide pediatric dental care. Plus, a new expansion to add pediatric dental services to our Avon Park health center, located at 950 CR 17-A West has just opened!
We are pleased to bring this valuable service to the Avon Park community, but for more information on convenient pediatric dental care locations, visit our website at cfhconline.org. In the meantime, here are few important reminders for your kid’s teeth:
- For infants, as soon as you can see your baby’s teeth, you should begin brushing. As soon as your baby’s teeth touch, you should begin flossing. This can sometimes be intimidating for new parents, so if you have questions, don’t hesitate to give us a call.
- When your child reaches the toddlerhood of two years old, start practicing spitting out toothpaste with him. This will help you when you make the switch to fluoride toothpaste later on!
- For kids ages three and up, remember to only a pea-sized amount of fluoride toothpaste (after mastering spitting while brushing mentioned previously).
- For children under six years of age, consider a pediatric fluoride treatment. We’ll consult with you about how often this should be done for your child, but it is a very simple, easy varnish that is applied to help prevent cavities from forming. This is done during your office visit, so make sure to ask about this service.
- For kids eight years of age and under, we always recommend supervising while brushing. Even champion brushers get distracted. Consistent, healthy oral cleaning habits are key to cavity prevention.
We hope these reminders and tips are helpful, but remember to schedule regular cleanings for your child’s teeth. Should you need pediatric dental care services or have questions about your kid’s teeth, don’t hesitate to reach out to our medical staff at (866) 234-8534.
This column is sponsored by Central Florida Health Care, Inc., and the opinions expressed herein may not reflect those of CFAN or of its advertisers.
BIO: Dr. Archana Antony is practices general dentistry for children with Central Florida Health Care, Inc, currently serving patients at our Winter Haven Women & Children location. To make an appointment with Dr. Antony or any of our team at one of our 12 locations, call (866) 234-8534. Visit cfhconline.org for more information.
