Extra Gentle Care For Their Gums And Teeth
Just like adults, children should have regular dental visits. Routine teeth cleaning and check-ups are essential for maintaining their oral health and supporting healthy development. Professional cleaning removes plaque, tartar, and bacteria that can cause decay, gum disease, bad breath, and even affect the eruption of adult teeth. A kid-friendly hygienist can reach areas that may be difficult for children to clean properly at home.
After a thorough cleaning, the hygienist and dentist can evaluate your child’s overall oral health, check the eruption or shedding of baby teeth, ensure proper placement of permanent adult teeth, and address any problem areas. They’ll also provide helpful tips and guidance tailored to your child’s specific needs to support at-home oral care.
Routine pediatric cleanings and exams help:
- Keep baby teeth and emerging adult teeth strong and healthy: Essential for proper development and overall oral health.
- Prevent gum disease and maintain overall oral health: Regular visits and care help prevent serious dental issues.
- Track progress and milestones during their dental development: Monitoring growth and tooth development is key for a healthy smile.
- Build a positive relationship with the dentist: Creating a comfortable dental experience fosters good oral health habits.
- Encourage kids to take responsibility for their oral health at home: Teaching proper brushing and flossing techniques at an early age is crucial.
- Establish lasting habits that support lifelong dental health: Early dental care sets the foundation for a lifetime of good oral hygiene.
What Happens During Children’s Teeth Cleaning?
Before the appointment, we review your child’s dental chart and history to identify any potential concerns or patterns. We may suggest X-rays, fluoride treatments, or sealants for their new adult teeth. Our team will communicate with your child in a friendly, reassuring way, asking about how they feel about their teeth and whether they have any questions or concerns.
Gum health
Gums are vital in supporting your child’s teeth and shaping their smile, yet they’re often overlooked. Maintaining healthy gums is crucial, especially as permanent teeth come in, as children are just as susceptible to gum disease as adults. We’ll thoroughly examine the soft tissues in their mouth and offer age-appropriate tips on flossing and gum care at home.
Plaque & Tartar Removal
Plaque, a soft and sticky film, forms on teeth as soon as they emerge. Without regular cleaning, plaque hardens into tartar, contributing to tooth decay, especially between teeth and along the gumline. Our hygienists are skilled at gently removing plaque and tartar from these hard-to-reach areas. We may also recommend a fluoride treatment to strengthen their enamel.
Watching for Milestones
The dentist will review your child’s chart and any new X-rays to monitor their progress and identify any issues or patterns that need attention. Children usually begin growing their first set of teeth between 6 months and 6 years old, and will gradually lose baby teeth as they get their permanent adult teeth into their teens (and even later for wisdom teeth!). Every child develops at their own pace, and the dentist will track their progress and address any concerns or delays.
Contact us today
to schedule an initial consultation & exam.
Your consultation will include an examination of everything from your teeth, gums and soft tissues to the shape and condition of your bite. Generally, we want to see how your whole mouth looks and functions. Before we plan your treatment we want to know everything about the health and aesthetic of your smile, and, most importantly, what you want to achieve so we can help you get there.
Frequently Asked Questions
Similar to adults, we recommend children visit every 6 months for a teeth cleaning and check-up, unless the dentist advises otherwise. Regular cleanings are essential for maintaining their oral health and preventing issues like cavities and gum disease. In some cases, children may need to come in as often as every 3 months. We also provide fluoride treatments and oral cancer screenings for extra protection.
Don’t wait—call us immediately. If you have any concerns about your child’s teeth, oral health, or potential issues like tooth sensitivity or gum disease, it’s always best to address them early. We can provide immediate care for dental emergencies, such as a broken tooth or an abscess, as well as treatments like sedation to ensure comfort during procedures.
Young children may have difficulty expressing discomfort. Watch for signs such as excessive touching or holding of their face, swelling, or avoiding certain foods. If your child experiences pain when eating hot or cold foods, it may be a sign of tooth sensitivity. We offer tooth sensitivity treatments to help reduce discomfort and prevent further damage.
Children’s teeth cleanings typically last between 30 minutes to an hour. The time may vary depending on your child’s comfort level or if additional treatments like fluoride application or an oral cancer screening are performed. We also use this time to address any potential concerns, including early signs of orthodontic needs.
It’s important to start cleaning your child’s teeth as soon as they come in, using approved, child-friendly, and age-appropriate toothpaste and brushes. Teach them about their mouths and how to care for them, encouraging them to brush their own teeth twice a day. Fluoride treatments are beneficial for children, so consider requesting them at the dentist and using fluorinated products and drinking water at home. Limit sugary or acidic foods and drinks like juice and soda, as they can promote tooth decay; it’s especially important to avoid these treats before bed. Set a good example by brushing your own teeth twice a day and flossing regularly.
Your child should wait at least 30 minutes after a fluoride treatment before eating or drinking. Waiting the full 30 minutes gives the treatment time to work it’s magic before it’s scrubbed away by food and rinsed away with drink.
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