Your child deserves the best possible start: The importance of early visits, infant oral care

It is our great privilege to get your new addition to the family off to the best possible start! As a provider of exceptional dentistry services to children and children only, Groat Pediatric Dentistry knows how to care for little mouths of all ages. Our board-certified pediatric dentist, Dr. Christopher Groat, understands children’s unique needs, risks, and other characteristics. He appreciates that kids are not just “small adults,” and this foundation really sets the tone for our entire practice and team. 

Establishing a dental home 

Infant oral care is important. In fact, the earliest months and years of life are so important that the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry’s recommendation is that babies should have their initial “well” visit by no later than their first birthday or within six months of the first baby teeth peeking through (whichever milestone comes first). These initial visits are so critical because most dental problems of early childhood are preventable and although the baby teeth will fall out eventually, they are critically important to the health and wellbeing of your child.

Dr. Groat works with parents to keep these teeth that are developing healthy. He advises on everything from cleaning little teeth and gums to tooth-friendly foods and behaviors; for instance, baby bottle decay is a leading cause of early tooth loss. This normally occurs when children fall asleep with milk, juice, formula or any other sugar-containing liquid in their mouth. Thankfully, this problem can be prevented by not allowing your child to sleep with a bottle.  Early dental visits enable our team to arm you with the information you need to keep your child healthy and cavity-free. 

Also, these early visits go far to get your child comfortable with our team, the office surroundings, and some things we do during regular visits or check-ups. When your child views having someone looking in their mouth or applying a cleaning tool as second nature, they develop a positive and healthy relationship with dental care and dentistry. We want them to carry these positive associations, behaviors, and habits into adulthood. 

Set the foundation for a lifetime of excellent health and smiles. Call Groat Pediatric Dentistry in San Pedro, CA, at (310) 832-5133 to schedule your infant’s first visit. We look forward to meeting you!