Get safe and effective care for your child with holistic pediatric dental services near Mooresville, NC
Lifelong habits for a healthy smile should start at an early age. Different methods of dental care are needed at different stages of your child’s life, and a good dentist can help you ensure that pediatric patients’ teeth and mouth stay healthy as they grow. Dr. William Virtue and Dr. Mary Katherine Taylor at Virtue Dental Care near Mooresville, NC provide holistic pediatric dental services to children of all ages. As holistic dentists, Dr. Virtue and Dr. Taylor are committed to providing dental care that not only keeps children’s teeth and gums healthy but is also good for their overall health and long-term well-being.
Benefits of holistic dentistry
Holistic dentistry, also called biological dentistry, is an approach that combines traditional dental care with a concern for the overall wellness and health of the patient.
- A holistic pediatric dentist can provide the same types of preventive care and treatments that a conventional dentist does, with an emphasis on safe materials and methods.
- With your parental request, the dentist can also remove existing dental restorations from your child’s mouth and replace them with biocompatible materials such as composite.
- Another benefit of biocompatible materials is that they look natural because they have the color and texture of real teeth, rather than a metallic appearance. The result is a happy, confident smile for your child.
At Virtue Dental Care, we adhere to strict protocols for dental health and safety to provide the highest quality of care possible for your child.
Caring for your baby’s teeth and gums
Babies’ teeth start cutting through their gums between six to 12 months, and tooth decay can begin as soon as your child’s teeth are visible. “Baby bottle tooth decay” is a term commonly used to describe the decay that can happen when babies are repeatedly given drinks with sugar in them or when a baby uses a bottle to fall asleep. Even before your child’s teeth cut through, it is important to keep your baby’s gums clean so that milk, food, or juice do not cause gum irritation or disease.
A holistic dentist can teach you how to keep your baby’s gums and teeth clean, give you nutritional information on how to best feed your baby for optimal oral health, and provide answers to questions that you have about habits such as thumb-sucking or pacifier use.
Dental hygiene during the toddler years
Toddlers need help brushing their teeth and using the right amount of toothpaste. You should brush your child’s teeth gently with a very small amount of toothpaste until they learn not to swallow it. Flossing your child’s teeth can help prevent inflammation in their gums. Starting visits to the dentist as early as possible, ideally around the first birthday, can help make your child comfortable with the dentist so he or she doesn’t have fear or anxiety about dental visits.
Adolescent and teenage dental hygiene and care
As your child grows and becomes capable of brushing and flossing, it is important for them to develop healthy habits to prevent gum disease and cavities. Your child’s dentist will also monitor oral development and refer you to an orthodontist if needed to prevent intensive interventions later in life. Teenagers will frequently take the advice of a dentist even when they don’t want to listen to their parents. Regular visits to their dentist can help ensure that they keep good dental hygiene habits and give the dentist the opportunity to discuss the negative impacts of behaviors such as smoking, alcohol, and drug use on oral health.
Schedule your child’s appointment today
The health of your child is one of your top priorities in life, and providing them safe, high-quality dental care is one of ours. Our office in Yadkinville, NC is conveniently located near Mooresville, and we provide a relaxing, fun environment to make your child at ease. Call the family-oriented Virtue Dental Care team at (336) 606-0040 to schedule your child’s exam today!
