As parents, it’s exciting to watch our children pass all of life’s milestones—their first words, the first time they take a step, their first day of school, and of course, the emergence of their very first tooth! Dental development is a significant and lengthy process that all kids will go through, some more easily than others—and understanding exactly what’s happening inside your kiddo’s mouth will allow you to provide the appropriate amount of support. Here’s some useful information from your trusted pediatric dentist about baby teeth and a few tips for helping you keep your little one’s smile in tip-top shape.

Like many parents, you might have occasionally given your baby a pacifier. That’s only natural – the device is a great way to soothe fussy infants and help them calm down. However, you might wonder, “Will a pacifier affect your baby’s teeth?” After all, one can easily think it’d alter a still-forming smile. Well, your Fort Washington dentist is here to answer your question. Read on to learn how pacifiers put baby teeth at risk and how to use them responsibly.

Like feeding themselves, walking, and potty training, your child has many skills to learn to become more independent. While other skills can wait until they get older, such as how to drive, brushing and flossing their teeth are essential to develop early on in life to protect their growing smile every day and give them confidence.

But for many kids, it can be struggle to get them to brush for a full two minutes. How can you make dental care a fun task, instead of a fight? Keep reading and try these tips from a pediatric dentist!