by Amy Sharp

It’s February, and that means it’s National Children’s Dental Health Month! Dr. Faisal Khan at Grand Parkway Pediatric Dental says, “Parents spend a lot of energy concentrating on their children’s medical health, and rightly so. But it’s just as important to take care of those little pearly whites. This month I’d like to share a couple of my top tips for new parents.”

But my child is too young! “Typically you’ll see the first tooth begin to erupt by six to nine months of age,” says Dr. Khan, “and most children will have at least a couple of teeth by age one. With the eruption of teeth, one of the first steps you can take toward better oral health is to switch your child from a bottle to a sippy cup. When children sleep or walk around with a bottle in their mouth, sugar coats their teeth for longer periods of time, causing teeth to decay more quickly. And like the American Academy of Pediatrics and American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry, I also recommend to parents to their bring their kids in for their first checkup around one year of age. There’s rarely anything wrong, but it’s a great time to familiarize children with our environment…alleviating a lot of what I call ‘crazy screaming dentistry!’ When kids enjoy coming in, it’s ultimately easier for everyone.”

Are you already worried about your child’s teeth? “Two of the most common worries among parents are thumb-sucking and clinching/grinding of teeth at night,” says Dr. Khan, “Both are very natural. Thumb sucking is an innate reflex for babies…a habit that provides many children both sleep and security. And I know as a parent that you don’t want to take away sleep or security! However, as your child grows past the age of two, you should start encouraging the child to stop. Grinding of the teeth during sleep is also very natural–and usually nothing to be concerned about. But as with any issue, my staff and I are always here to help, and we can evaluate your child and see if any treatment is required.”

Take charge of your child’s oral heath this month and schedule an appointment with Dr. Khan today!

Grand Parkway Pediatric Dental
Dr. Faisal M. Khan, DDS
832-222-TOTS (8687)
7830 W. Grand Parkway S, Suite 270
Richmond, TX 77406
www.grandparkwaypediatricdental.com