You may know when your kid has a fever, and you may know when they are about to have a temper tantrum, but one thing you may not know much about is pediatric dental care services. If your young child has a dentist appointment coming up, make sure that you show up prepared. But how? This article will list three specific things to talk to your dentist about. Are you ready to learn some more? If so, then read on. 

1. Pacifiers

If your little one still uses a pacifier, then talk to your dentist about when they should stop using it and if there is any damage already done. Sometimes, if you stop your child from using a pacifier when they are young, their teeth will go back to normal. If your child is a thumb sucker, then it can be a lot more challenging to get them to stop sucking their thumb than getting rid of a pacifier. Try to get your baby to switch to a pacifier instead of their thumb. 

2. Toothbrushing

When your baby doesn't have teeth, you just need to wipe their gums with a warm, wet cloth and that should help get rid of extra sugars and bacteria. As they get teeth though, you will need to brush them gently with a small toothbrush and maybe some toothpaste. Talk to your dentist about what kinds of toothpaste you should use and how much. Typically, they recommend that you use a small pea sized portion of fluoride-free toothpaste until they are two. Then, once they are two and have more teeth, you can use fluoride toothpaste. 

3. Cavities

Because it can be hard to get your little kid to sit still while you brush their teeth, they can be prone to cavities. Plus, if they drink a bottle even at night, then all of the sugar from the milk may lead to more cavities. Ask your dentist about bottle usage and whether or not that is harming their teeth. Also, talk to them about other ways that you can prevent cavities from forming such as encouraging your child to to drink more water and drink less juice. 

During your child's first dental exam, they will usually lay in your lap while their pediatric dentist looks at their teeth and heir gums. If you want to learn more, contact a pediatric dental care services company near you.