Children's Dentistry

When should my child start going to the dentist?

We recommend that your child first sees a dentist and has their first dental check-up from the age of six months as this is when the first tooth usually appears, and certainly by the age of one when most of your baby’s front teeth are present. This follows the guidance of the British Society of Paediatric Dentistry. We are also on hand for dietary advice (especially on the intake of sugars) and proper oral care recommendations.

The journey to a life of healthy teeth and gums starts even before your child requires dental care.

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larkham house

Children’s dentistry at Larkham House.

What happens at my child’s first appointment?

At our clinic, we prioritize the significance of Children’s Dentistry, especially during their first appointment. This initial visit is crucial in creating a positive and enjoyable experience for your child, ensuring they avoid developing dental phobias. This appointment allows an opportunity for you and your child to meet our dental team, and we hope your child feels at ease while sitting in the dental chair for an examination. In the event that your child is feeling nervous, please do not worry as we are experienced in helping children feel comfortable and happy during their visit.

Our approach is gentle and compassionate, and we have numerous techniques to ensure that a visit to the dentist is a pleasant one.

This visit is also an opportunity for you to check what sort of toothbrush and toothpaste is right for your child and to get advice on food and drink. We also offer fluoride varnish so that when your child is a bit older, he or she can be given a protective varnish for their back teeth which helps to prevent decay. The NHS Change4Life website has tips and ideas for cutting down on sugary foods and drinks.

Our aim is to ensure that your child’s appointments are a positive experience that they can look forward to. Good oral health is important for your child’s confidence and can prevent future problems.

When and how often should children brush their teeth?

  1. Clean teeth for two minutes twice a day.
  2. Always brush just before bedtime.
  3. Clean teeth before breakfast and not after, as this removes potential acid-forming bacteria that has built up overnight.
  4. Always spit out of toothpaste, but never rinse as this will wash away the fluoride, reducing its protection.
  5. If your child brushes after meals, always wait for a few minutes to give their mouth time to neutralise any acid, brushing sooner could drive the acid deeper into teeth, corroding them further.

Dietary advice and oral health education

Our dental clinic has a team of trained Oral Health Educators, consisting of three nurses, who can provide visual demonstrations to complement the advice given by our dentists. They can also offer helpful dietary recommendations for you and your child’s overall health, and even provide their expertise to schools and nurseries.

Looking after baby teeth

Did you know that: baby teeth are just as susceptible to cavities as adult teeth? You should start brushing your child’s teeth twice a day as soon as they emerge. Use a very thin film of high fluoride toothpaste (no less than 1,000 ppm / parts per million). The fluoride helps prevent tooth decay by protecting the tooth against sugars and bacteria in the mouth.

Your child should spit out any excess toothpaste. And we don’t encourage rinsing as the excess fluoride can continue to protect their teeth

It is essential that you look after baby teeth, they function as “placeholders” for your child’s permanent teeth. If baby teeth are lost too early it can cause adult teeth to grow wrongly into the empty space. This can make it difficult for other teeth to find room later. Poor dental care can lead to tooth decay, gum disease, and worn tooth surfaces.

My child won’t brush their teeth, what can I do to encourage them?

  1. Try fruit-flavoured toothpaste which contains fluoride.
  2. Only use a ‘pea size’ amount of toothpaste from aged two years old and up and a ‘smear’ for children under two years.
  3. Children’s toothbrushes should always have a small head.
  4. Try offering fun rewards, sticker charts, or make up a silly song to encourage your child to brush their teeth.
  5. Download a Toothbrush Timer app to make it more fun.
  6. Buy a big egg timer and see who can keep brushing until the two-minute timer runs out!

When should my child see an orthodontist?

The age at which treatment may be undertaken varies depending on the needs of your child, Generally, Orthodontic treatment is carried out once all the adult teeth have emerged, however in certain cases early intervention can reduce or even avoid future orthodontic treatment. As a rule, we recommend that around the age of 8 is an appropriate time for your child to be assessed by a specialist orthodontist.

Check out our team on our “About us” page

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What do they say about Larkham House?

“Went here with a dental emergency. Took less than 5 minutes, no teeth needed to be pulled! Got anti biotics. Great staff. Abscess drained. They were brilliant”

Holly

“Thank you so much Vivek for all your kindness and time. This will completely change my life and I cant thank you enough. I will forever be grateful for all your hard work and...”

Heather.

“Dr Giddani & Rachel, Thank you both for being so kind when I had my tooth out as a nervous patient. Thank You!”

Karen

“First class !!! Always helpful especially in an emergency situation, as a person who had experienced bad dentistry as a child it's great to feel safe and happy every time I visit Larkham House."”

Damon

“I was referred by NHS emergency centre yesterday, was seen x-rayed and treated straight away. dentist (Matt) was very calming, gentle and informative- truly professional service' thankyou very much.🙂”

Nicola. R

“Came in yesterday and had tooth extraction. The female dentist who did it was great. Would highly recommend this surgery. She was very friendly and professional.”

Simon. L

“Warm welcome, friendly professional team, I am nervous of the dentist but was made to feel at ease immediately. Thank you”

Diana B

  • 49 Larkham Lane
  • Plymouth
  • PL7 4PH
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