Your children are soon to head back to school, and we want to make sure they can do so with a healthy smile. Which means now is a great time to schedule a checkup and cleaning to get started! In today’s blog, your team at Lake Orion Family Dentistry in Lake Orion, MI, talks about helping little smiles with children’s dentistry.
A Checkup and Cleaning for Your Child
Kids need to see the dentist every six months, just like adults do, and we recommend these checkups and cleanings begin at around age two. With routine visits, kids can become accustomed to the dentist, avoiding dental anxiety later in life. They will also better understand their oral health and the importance of caring for their smiles, and could be more likely to continue care on their own as adults.
With a checkup, we will use digital x-rays and intraoral cameras to make a detailed examination of your child’s bite. These imaging systems provide an exam with precision and comfort, so we can make a diagnosis with accuracy. Our team can then create a treatment plan to address the concerns we find, such as a cavity. In the same visit, we will offer a dental cleaning to remove harmful layers of plaque and tartar from the teeth, which helps brighten smiles and lower the risk of issues like tooth decay and gingivitis.
Dental Sealants and Fluoride
Along with routine checkups and cleanings, our team can also offer unique preventive treatments to fight cavity risk for kids of all ages. Following the cleaning portion of the six month visit, we can apply fluoride to the teeth, coating the teeth in a varnish that strengthens the outer enamel, making cavities less likely in the time between checkup visits. This is also why kids should use a toothpaste with fluoride, with those under three using a rice-sized amount, and kids over the age of three should use a pea-sized amount.
We also know that kids often have a hard time reaching the rear teeth, the molars that sit at the back of the mouth. As a result, particles of sugar and starch from the foods and drinks they consume can become trapped between them, leading to a higher cavity risk. But we can coat these molars with dental sealants, a thin acrylic layer that covers them and prevents food and drink particles from being caught between them. Application only takes a few seconds, and kids just need to avoid food and drink for about a half-hour as it cures. For some, dental sealants could stay in place for years to come, preventing cavities from occurring in vulnerable areas of little smiles!
Better Homecare Actions
Our team will also take time to talk to your kids about how to better care for their teeth from home in between these office visits. Children should brush for two minutes when they wake up and then do so again before bed. Each session should involve a toothbrush with soft bristles, and they can use an electric or manual version, as both are effective. Just make sure the toothbrush is age-appropriate, so they have an easier time using it. Again, be sure your little ones use a fluoride toothpaste!
We also urge kids to floss every evening before they brush that second time. Flossing removes what a toothbrush’s bristles cannot reach, so they need to floss up and down each side of every tooth, dipping beneath the gum line. You can assist younger children and monitor your older ones. They can use a floss pick initially, and graduate to floss tape or string later on. Some little ones may prefer a water flosser. Whichever they prefer is perfect, just as long as they take time to clean between their teeth properly every night!
If you have any questions about children’s dentistry, or about how we protect little smiles from cavities, then contact our team today to learn more and schedule an appointment. Now is a great time to schedule your child’s back-to-school visit, so we can make sure your little ones start a new school year with stronger and healthier smiles, and a lower risk of tooth decay.
Lake Orion Family Dentistry Provides Children’s Dentistry
We want to help kids of all ages enjoy their best possible smile, and start school with a cavity-free one! Your little ones can also gain a better understanding of their smiles, and how and why to care for them daily. To find out more about children’s dental care, or to schedule an appointment, call Lake Orion Family Dentistry in Lake Orion, MI at (248)693-6213.
