Children's Dental Health Resource Centre
A guide for Aurora families — building healthy smiles from infancy through the teenage years.
At Aurora Borealis Dentistry, we created this resource centre to help parents in Aurora and across York Region build strong, healthy smiles for their children — starting before birth and continuing through every stage of development.
Good oral health habits established in childhood lay the foundation for a lifetime of healthy teeth and gums. We welcome children of all ages and accept the Canadian Dental Care Plan (CDCP), with direct billing to most major insurance providers. New patients — young ones included — are always welcome.
Getting Started
Your child's first dental visit
We recommend scheduling your child's first dental visit by age one, or within six months of their first tooth appearing. Starting early might seem unnecessary, but these early appointments serve an important purpose — they have almost nothing to do with treatment.
At Aurora Borealis Dentistry, a child's first visit focuses entirely on comfort, familiarity, and education. The goal is to help your child develop a positive, relaxed relationship with the dental office so future visits feel routine rather than scary. Parents receive practical guidance on oral care, feeding habits, and what to watch for as teeth develop.
If necessary, a gentle examination may be performed, but we follow the child's lead. No child should ever feel rushed or pressured at the dentist — especially not at their very first visit.
Tip for parents: Try to schedule your child's appointment at a time of day when they're typically well-rested and cooperative — usually mid-morning. Avoid scheduling right before nap time or after a long day.
Tooth Development
What to expect and when
Understanding how teeth develop helps parents know what's normal and when to seek guidance. Here's a general overview:
Before Birth
Oral health during pregnancy
Although babies are born with gummy smiles, their teeth begin forming while they're still in the womb. A mother's overall health, nutrition, and oral care during pregnancy play an important role in a child's dental development.
Research shows that mothers with untreated gum disease may have a higher risk of premature birth. Maintaining good oral health during pregnancy supports both maternal wellbeing and your baby's future smile. If you're pregnant and haven't had a professional cleaning recently, we encourage you to book an appointment — dental treatment is safe during pregnancy, and the second trimester is typically the ideal time for routine care.
Daily Care
Brushing & daily oral care by age
Good oral hygiene should begin as soon as teeth appear — and even before. Here's a stage-by-stage guide:
Infants — before and after the first tooth
Clean your baby's gums after each feeding using a clean, damp cloth or gauze pad. This removes milk residue and bacteria and introduces the habit of oral cleaning before teeth even appear. Once the first tooth erupts, begin brushing immediately using a soft, infant-sized toothbrush with plain water.
Toddlers — ages 1 to 3
Continue brushing twice daily. A tiny smear of fluoride toothpaste — the size of a grain of rice — can be introduced once your child understands not to swallow it. Brush for your child at this age, as they don't yet have the dexterity to do it effectively themselves.
Children — ages 3 to 6
Increase toothpaste to a pea-sized amount. Children can begin learning to brush with supervision, but parents should always finish the job. Flossing should begin as soon as two teeth touch. Make brushing a routine — morning and before bed — and model the behaviour yourself.
School-age children — ages 6 and up
Children can begin brushing more independently around age 6 to 7, though parental supervision remains valuable until approximately age 10 to ensure technique is consistent. Electric toothbrushes can be a helpful motivational tool for children who find manual brushing tedious.
Prevention
Nursing bottle syndrome — what every parent should know
Whether a child is drinking milk, formula, or juice, falling asleep with a bottle or sippy cup can significantly increase the risk of early childhood tooth decay — commonly known as nursing bottle syndrome or early childhood caries.
When a child falls asleep feeding, sugary liquid pools around the teeth for extended periods. The bacteria in the mouth feed on these sugars and produce acids that attack tooth enamel. Early warning signs include white or chalky spots on the teeth near the gumline — these can progress to significant decay very quickly in young children.
To reduce risk:
- Never put a child to bed with a bottle containing anything other than plain water
- Avoid juice, sweetened drinks, or formula in bottles used at bedtime or overnight feeds
- Wean children off bottles by age one if possible
- Clean gums and teeth after night feeds where practical
Nutrition
Nutrition & dental health
What children eat and drink has a direct impact on their dental health. The frequency of sugar exposure matters as much as the quantity — every time a sugary food or drink is consumed, the teeth are exposed to an acid attack lasting approximately 20 minutes.
Preventive Care
Fluoride for children
Fluoride helps strengthen tooth enamel and makes teeth more resistant to the acid produced by decay-causing bacteria. It's one of the most well-researched and effective tools in preventive dentistry — safe and highly beneficial when used appropriately.
At Aurora Borealis Dentistry, fluoride may be recommended depending on your child's age, diet, and cavity risk. It can be applied professionally as:
- Fluoride varnish — a quick, comfortable application painted directly onto the teeth during a check-up, suitable from the time the first tooth erupts
- Tray-based fluoride — for older children requiring a higher concentration application
- Fluoride rinse — for children who can safely spit, as part of a home routine
At home, using a dentist-approved fluoride toothpaste and drinking fluoridated water where available provides ongoing protective benefits. Any questions about the right fluoride approach for your child's age and risk level are welcome at your appointment.
Preventive Care
Pit & fissure sealants
The chewing surfaces of back teeth (molars) are covered in deep pits and grooves — called fissures — that trap food and bacteria and are extremely difficult to clean with a toothbrush alone. These surfaces account for a significant proportion of cavities in children and teenagers.
Sealants are thin protective coatings applied to these grooves, acting as a physical barrier between bacteria and the tooth surface. The application is quick, painless, and requires no drilling or removal of tooth structure.
Protection
Mouthguards for young athletes
Sports-related dental injuries are among the most common facial injuries in children — and among the most preventable. A custom-fitted athletic mouthguard is one of the most effective ways to protect your child's teeth during contact or collision sports including hockey, soccer, basketball, martial arts, rugby, and cycling.
Over-the-counter boil-and-bite mouthguards provide limited protection due to poor fit. A professionally made custom mouthguard fits precisely over your child's teeth, stays in place during activity, and provides significantly better protection against tooth fracture, displacement, and jaw injury.
We provide custom athletic mouthguards at our Aurora practice — ask about this at your child's next check-up appointment.
Questions
Frequently asked questions from parents
When should my child first see a dentist?
My child is nervous about the dentist. What can you do?
Do baby teeth really matter if they fall out anyway?
How often should my child have a dental check-up?
When should I start flossing my child's teeth?
Is fluoride safe for children?
Do you accept the Canadian Dental Care Plan (CDCP) for children?
Book Now
Book your child's appointment in Aurora
Whether you're bringing in your child for their very first dental visit, a routine check-up, or you have a specific concern — we'd be glad to welcome your family to Aurora Borealis Dentistry. We're located at 107–14785 Yonge Street, Aurora, ON, open Monday to Saturday, 8AM to 9PM. New patients of all ages are always welcome and the CDCP is accepted.