Dental Milestones: Age 3-5
They grow up so fast, don’t they? Kiddos between the ages of 3-5 show more signs of independence and even a full set of primary teeth! As your child grows, it’s important to understand these dental milestones and help your child on their smile journey.
Learn more about dental care for children ages 3-5, and how Milestone Kids Dentistry can help your child achieve a healthier smile in Arlington, WA. Schedule an appointment today!
What Oral Developments To Expect From Your Preschooler
By age 3, your child will be moving out of the toddler stage with a set of 20 baby teeth! This includes 4 central incisors, 4 lateral incisors, 4 canines, and 8 molars. Around 6 years old, their teeth become wiggly and start to fall out, which are then replaced by new adult teeth.
How Often Should My Preschooler Go
To The Dentist?
Even though their teeth are not permanent yet, proper dental care for children age 3-5 is still crucial to their health. After their age one dental visit, they need to come in every six months for biannual cleanings and preventative care.
Dental Care: Keeping Your Preschooler’s
Teeth Healthy
Kiddos who are between 3 and 5 years old are exploring their newfound independence, so they may be ready to brush their teeth on their own. Helping them establish healthy habits and routines can give your child a foundation for better dental health.
Implementing a brushing routine in the morning and evening is very important, even for children whose baby teeth are just erupting. This means it’s a great time to teach them proper dental hygiene techniques. While this may feel like a daunting task for some parents, there are many ways to make brushing your teeth fun and effective for you and your child!
When your child is brushing their teeth for the first time, let them brush their teeth alone, but advise them to get into all the nooks and crannies. Then, brush their teeth yourself to ensure they did a thorough job.
There are also many ways to keep brushing teeth fun and interesting for your child! Sing songs, play games, or use videos and apps to keep your kiddo engaged in the routine.
Thumb sucking may seem cute early on, but if your child’s habit has continued through 3-5 years old, it’s important to break it as soon as possible. Thumb sucking can harm the structure and development of your child’s smile. The force from this habit can place stress on the teeth, jaw, and roof of the mouth, causing bite malocclusions, or misalignments, that may require orthodontic treatment to fix.
Flossing is just as important for children as it is for adults, and you should floss your child’s teeth from the moment you see two teeth touching. This helps keep food particles out of the areas between your child’s teeth, preventing plaque buildup and tooth decay.
Most kids still need hands-on help with flossing well into their later childhood years—even up to age 10 or 11! That’s totally normal. Their motor skills are still developing, and flossing properly takes practice and precision.
We recommend that parents continue assisting with flossing until their child has the coordination to do it thoroughly and consistently on their own.
Kids aged 3-5 can be busybodies, exploring their surroundings and enjoying their independence. Unfortunately, this means that their risk of dental injury is higher too. Here are a few tips to prevent dental injuries in children:
- Don’t let them walk or run with anything in their mouth.
- Never let them chew on sharp or hard objects.
- Give them a mouthguard when participating in vigorous activities like sports.
Supporting Dental Milestones For Kids Age 3-5
Between 3 and 5 years old, your child is going through an important dental milestone. At Milestone Kids Dentistry, we celebrate these milestones and help your child develop healthy habits. With the power of preventative care and good dental hygiene, your little one can enjoy a lifetime of healthy and happy smiles. Schedule an appointment today to learn more about dental care for children aged 3-5!