Parent Dental Tips

Helping Parents Raise Healthy Smiles

New Patient Forms

Early Dental Visits

A child’s first dental visit helps us monitor growth, check for early concerns, and guide parents on brushing, teething, feeding habits, and prevention.

Healthy Home Habits

Simple routines like cup drinking, proper brushing, and avoiding bedtime bottles can help protect your child’s teeth from early decay.

Parent Wellness Tips

From pregnancy through the toddler years, we offer helpful guidance on oral health, nutrition, teething, and wellness-focused product recommendations.

Parent Wellness Guide

Parent Information

Helpful guidance for expectant parents, infants, and young children. These answers cover early dental visits, bottle habits, teething, brushing, nutrition, and wellness-focused tips to support your child’s oral health from the beginning.

During pregnancy, expectant mothers should speak with their healthcare provider about choosing a prenatal vitamin that contains folate rather than folic acid, especially if they have concerns about mood, hormones, or overall wellness.

Some mothers explore wild yam cream as part of postpartum hormone support. It is important to speak with a doctor, midwife, or healthcare provider before using it, especially while breastfeeding or managing any health conditions.

Xlear Nasal Spray is sometimes used by families as part of an infant wellness routine. Parents should ask their pediatrician or healthcare provider before using any nasal product with a baby.

We typically recommend a child’s first dental visit within six months after the first tooth appears, or by age one. Early exams help protect your child’s smile and give parents helpful preventive guidance.

Early childhood tooth decay, sometimes called baby bottle tooth decay or nursing caries, can happen when teeth are exposed to milk, formula, juice, or sugars for long periods, especially during naps or overnight.

Many infants begin solid foods around six months with guidance from their pediatrician. Introducing safe, age-appropriate foods can help children develop chewing skills, explore textures, and build healthy eating habits.

As children approach their first birthday, parents can begin encouraging cup drinking. Children should not fall asleep with a bottle, and juice should be limited or diluted with water when offered.

Children are often ready to transition away from the bottle around 12 to 14 months of age. This helps support healthy oral development and reduces the risk of prolonged exposure to sugars.

Thumb sucking is normal for infants, and many children stop by age two. If the habit continues beyond age three, it may affect tooth alignment or bite development, and our team can offer guidance.

No. Pacifiers should never be dipped in honey, sugar, syrup, or anything sweet before being given to a baby. Sweet substances can increase the risk of tooth decay and other health concerns.

Use a child-sized toothbrush with a small brushing surface and only a pea-sized amount of toothpaste. Children should be taught to spit, not swallow, and parents should help with brushing until at least age four.

Nano-hydroxyapatite is a biocompatible mineral designed to mimic the natural makeup of tooth enamel and bone. Some dentists recommend fluoride-free toothpaste with nano-hydroxyapatite for younger children.

At Valley View Dental, we recommend Dr. Jen’s Fluoride Free Toothpaste for families looking for a fluoride-free option. Ask one of our clinical team members how to get yours during your visit.

From around six months to age three, children may experience sore gums as teeth come in. A clean, cooled teething ring can help soothe discomfort and give your child something safe to chew.

No. Parents should avoid cleaning pacifiers or eating utensils with their own mouth before giving them to a child. This can transfer bacteria from adults to children and may increase oral health risks.


Growing Smiles Start Here

Support Your Child’s Smile With Gentle, Wellness-Focused Dental Guidance

NEW PATIENT FORM

Every stage of your child’s development brings new questions about teeth, feeding habits, brushing, nutrition, teething, and prevention. Our team is here to help parents feel informed and confident with practical guidance that supports healthy habits at home and comfortable dental experiences in the office. From a child’s first visit to ongoing preventive care, we focus on helping growing smiles stay strong, healthy, and supported from the very beginning.

“Early dental care is about more than checking teeth. It gives parents the tools, confidence, and support they need to help their children build healthy habits for life.”
— Dr. Jennifer Miller, DDS, FMP
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