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Parent Area

Section 1

I Trust My Family’s Oral Health to Clinique Dentaire Mathew

We welcome children in a warm and welcoming environment. We work with parents to ensure their child will have a positive experience.

First Visit

Your child’s first dental exam should happen around age 1. During this first appointment, your dentist will evaluate the development of your child’s oral health, his or her cavity risk, and the frequency of subsequent appointments. The hygienist will teach you all about good daily habits and tell you how your child should eat to maintain good oral health.
Section 2

Frequency and Treatments

Generally, scheduling an exam every six months will allow the dentist to detect small problems early. Around the age of three, your child will get their first polishing and fluoride treatment. X-rays will then be taken to detect any cavities between the teeth. The Régie de l’assurance maladie du Québec (RAMQ) covers the cost of the exam and certain treatments for children under the age of ten. Baby teeth with cavities still need to be filled since they are essential for maintaining the space that the permanent adult teeth will eventually need. In addition, certain baby teeth won’t fall out until the child is 10 or 11 years old.
Section 3

Cavities

Check your child’s teeth as often as possible. Dull white, yellow, or brown stains near the gums or on the teeth can be the early sign of a cavity.

As soon as your child’s first teeth come in, they need to be brushed twice a day. Use a very small amount of toothpaste with fluoride. Start using floss as soon as the teeth start touching. Children are at an increased risk for cavities if:

  • They drink a lot of juice or eat a lot of sweet foods
  • Their teeth aren’t brushed every single day
  • They lack fluoride
  • Cavities run in the family

Watch out! Sugar is often added to drinks, food, and medications aimed at young children. Natural sugars are also found in fruit, juice, and milk.

Don’t let your child fall asleep, seek comfort, or walk around with a bottle or sippy cup filled with milk, juice, or any other sugary liquid. If your baby has a habit of doing this, gradually dilute these sugary drinks until your child is used to water only. Ideally, you should aim to slowly eliminate bottle feeding around the age of one. Never dip your child’s soother in honey, corn syrup, or any other sugary product.

When it comes to snack foods, opt for things like cheese, vegetables, and fresh fruit. Even if they are sugar free, fruit juices are acidic and can cause cavities. Avoid feeding your children sweets between meals. Unsweetened snacks that are not sticky are better for your child’s health and teeth.
Section 4

Thumbs and Pacifiers

It’s normal for babies to suck on their thumbs or use a soother. However, you’ll want to make sure that your child puts an end to this habit gradually, before their permanent teeth come in, to prevent crooked teeth. Your dental hygienist and dentist can guide you and help you find ways to accomplish this.

Pregnancy

Your dental hygienist can scale your teeth throughout your second and third trimesters. X-rays will be postponed until after the baby is born, unless there is an emergency (i.e., abscess, fracture, etc.). If you have any pain, the only medication we recommend is acetaminophen. Refrain from taking codeine, ibuprofen, and aspirin. When dental treatments are required, they can usually be scheduled during the second trimester of a woman’s pregnancy. The products we use (i.e., anaesthesia), won’t have any negative effects on the fetus. Certain procedures will still need to be postponed until after the baby is born (i.e., teeth whitening).