If you have a child, you want the best for them, and that includes their health. To protect their smiles from issues like tooth decay, we can offer metal-free and safe dental care with children’s dentistry! In today’s blog, your Lake Orion, MI, dentist talks about how we help babies, toddlers, kids, and teens with children’s dentistry.
The Need for a Routine Checkup
When children see us every six months, we can conduct a detailed exam to look closely at their smiles. With digital imaging, we can provide a diagnosis with precision and accuracy, identifying areas of concern and planning care to improve your little one’s smile. If we find a cavity, we can offer a safe and gentle filling made from metal-free materials that bond with the tooth and last for years to come, preventing infection and premature tooth loss. If there is more serious decay or early infection, we could cap the tooth with a metal-free ceramic crown, which can also help improve bite balance and chewing function for some kids too.
These visits also help prevent dental anxiety, and let kids understand the importance of routine care. They may also be more willing to see the dentist on their own as adults!
Dental Cleanings
In the same visit as your dental checkup, our team can conduct a cleaning. With this procedure, we will gently and thoroughly remove all plaque and tartar from the teeth with an ultrasonic scaling device. The device will emit gentle vibrations to remove the buildup, and we will employ a manual pick for the stubborn tartar along the gums. With a cleaning, we can lower the risk of cavities and gingivitis, and also fight bad breath and teeth stains. We will also discuss how to better brush and floss in between the visits to limit buildup!
Fluoride Treatments
Cavities are a common problem for kids, and we can help with children’s dentistry. During the six-month checkup and cleaning, we can strengthen the outer enamel with fluoride, a process that takes seconds and then keeps the outer enamel strong, preventing the erosion linked to tooth decay. Kids just need to avoid food and drink for about 30 minutes after application. We also recommend fluoride toothpaste for this same reason, a small amount could help strengthen the enamel when kids brush twice a day.
Dental Sealants
Children’s dentistry is all about prevention, and another way to avoid cavities is with dental sealants. The rear teeth are difficult for kids to reach when they brush and floss, so food and drink particles can become trapped between the molars, increasing the risk of tooth decay in these hard-to-reach teeth. With dental sealants, we can apply a thin layer of acrylic to these rear teeth, which takes seconds and stays in place for years to come, lowering the risk of cavities significantly.
Better Brushing and Flossing
Education is also a key component of children’s dentistry, so we want to talk about the importance of daily brushing and flossing for kids of all ages. When they brush in the morning for two minutes and do the same at night, this helps scrub away food and drink particles, limiting the ability of plaque until we can see them for cleanings every six months. Kids also need to floss every evening, as cleaning between the teeth is also essential for keeping cavities and gingivitis at bay, and this reaches where a toothbrush alone cannot.
Avoiding Excessive Sugar
What kids eat and drink also impacts their oral health. When they consume sugary foods and drinks, like candy, snack cakes, soda, fruit juice, energy drinks, and even some sports drinks, this could increase the risk of cavities, providing a meal for harmful bacteria and promoting plaque and tartar buildup. Instead, offer them lots of water, fresh fruits and vegetables, low fat yogurt and dairy products, and plenty of foods with vitamins C and D. A healthy diet is a great way to give them energy, improve overall health, and keep their teeth and gums strong too.
If you have any questions about how we help little smiles of all ages with children’s dentistry, or if you want to schedule a visit for your child, then please reach out to our team today to learn more and get started. We look forward to helping kids of all ages enjoy good oral health and smiles that shine, and we do so with a safe and holistic approach!
Lake Orion Family Dentistry Offers Children’s Dentistry
With children’s dentistry, our team can provide care to protect smiles of all ages in childhood. To find out more about our approach to children’s dentistry, or to schedule an appointment, call Lake Orion Family Dentistry in Lake Orion, MI at (248)693-6213.
