With daily care at home and at our office every six months, you can help your children enjoy healthy smiles, avoiding issues like tooth decay and gingivitis. In today’s blog, your Garland, TX, dentist will explain how we keep little smiles healthy, and what you can do from home to protect your children from poor oral health!
A Regular Checkup and Cleaning
We suggest a checkup visit every six months starting at around age two. These visits let our team monitor the smiles as they grow and change, so we can diagnose developing problems and treat them before they pose a serious risk to your child’s oral health. The visits also let us watch for problems like baby teeth not falling out on time, or the improper eruption of permanent teeth, major factors in the onset of misalignment.
We also use these visits to instill good oral health habits and help kids better understand their own smiles. We also clean the teeth too, a process that removes harmful plaque and tartar, which brushing and flossing alone cannot do, to prevent tooth decay and other oral health problems.
Fluoride and Dental Sealants
We could also offer unique preventive treatments to help avoid the onset of cavities in kids of all ages. Every six months we could apply a fluoride varnish during the checkup visits. The fluoride material then strengthens the outer enamel to help prevent tooth decay. We also have dental sealants. These involve adding a protective acrylic coating to the rear teeth, which keeps food particles from becoming stuck between. Kids often have a hard time reaching the molars when they brush and floss, so cavities become more likely. Sealants, which can stay in place for up to ten years, could help little smiles stay free of cavities!
Cleaning Teeth at Home
We would also love to talk to your kids about cleaning their teeth at home. Like you, they benefit from daily brushing and flossing. Children should brush their teeth in the morning and then again at night. Each session should take about two minutes, and use a rice-sized bit of fluoride toothpaste. Flossing is also key, as this removes what a toothbrush cannot reach. Younger kids may have an easier time handing a floss pick at first, upgrading to tape as their dexterity improves.
If you have any questions about our approach to children’s dentistry, then contact our team today to schedule your child’s next visit!
LEARN MORE ABOUT CHILDREN’S DENTISTRY
If you want to help your little ones enjoy strong and healthy smiles for years to come, then schedule a consultation today by contacting Mai Dentistry in Garland, TX at (972)-530-0552. You can also find our practice at 6850 N Shiloh Rd, Suite C Garland, TX 75044. We’re ready to help each and every member of your family enjoy optimal oral health.