MDDr. Hladík advises on children's dental care

Care for children's teeth begins earlier than most parents think. What should the first visit to the dentist look like, when to start cleaning, and what mistakes do parents most often make? MDDr. Jakub Hladík, a dental surgeon at The Clinic stomatology center who has long been dedicated to caring for pediatric patients, answers these questions in an interview.

First visit to the dentist

MDDr. Hladík recommends the first visit to the dental surgeon around the child's first birthday, or when the first tooth erupts. The purpose of this visit is not treatment, but primarily to familiarize the child with the dental office environment, assess the condition of the teeth, and educate the parents. If a child first comes to the dentist only when they already have pain or visible cavities, they often develop a negative relationship with the dental surgeon for many years. A playful form of the first visit, a brief check-up, and no stress are the key to making children want to visit the dentist.

Cleaning from the first tooth

Parents should start cleaning teeth as soon as the child's first tooth erupts — usually around the sixth month of age. Initially, gentle wiping with gauze or a silicone finger cover is sufficient, later transitioning to a soft children's toothbrush with a small head. From the first tooth, it is recommended to use fluoride toothpaste in an amount the size of a rice grain, and from age three in an amount the size of a pea. Children up to about eight to ten years old do not have sufficiently developed motor skills to clean their teeth perfectly on their own — parents must therefore always check and finish cleaning after their child.

Most common parental mistakes

Among the most common mistakes that MDDr. Hladík encounters in his practice is neglecting care of baby teeth with the argument that they will fall out anyway. Baby teeth hold space for permanent teeth, and their premature loss can lead to orthodontic problems. Other typical problems include nighttime nursing or a bottle with a sweet drink at bedtime, excessive consumption of sweets and sweetened beverages during the day, too late a first visit to the dentist, and inconsistency in finishing cleaning. Many parents also pass on their own fear of the dentist to their children, which affects their approach to dental care for life.

Listen to the full interview with MDDr. Jakub Hladík on The Clinic website