Kids Need Dental Cleanings Twice A Year

Posted March 7, 2022

When plaque and tartar accumulate on the surfaces of the smile, this could lead to serious trouble, including cavities. While brushing and flossing are helpful at limiting plaque, only a cleaning can remove it. In today’s blog, your Dallas, TX, pediatric dentist talks about why kids need dental cleanings twice a year.

The Dangers of Plaque and Tartar

Plaque and tartar impact smiles of all ages, and are a danger as soon as the first primary tooth arrives. When the particles left behind by sugary and starchy foods, or drinks high in sugar, are broken down by bacteria, this creates a bacterial byproduct known as plaque. This sticky layer clings to the teeth and can’t be removed with brushing and flossing alone. Over time, it hardens into tartar. This begins to weaken and erode the outer enamel, and inflames gum tissues, so your child is more susceptible to tooth decay, dental infection, and even gingivitis. To safeguard little smiles, we can gently and thoroughly remove this buildup from the teeth!

Dental Cleanings

Starting at around age two, we would like to see your child every six months for a visit. During this visit, our team will gently remove all plaque and tartar with a manual tool and an ultrasonic cleaning device. We then polish the teeth thoroughly for a brighter appearance and a smoother feel. This visit helps protect smiles or cavities and other oral health concerns, and also fights bad breath and teeth stains. During the same visit, we will examine the smile to identify signs of trouble early, so we can help kids enjoy healthy, whole smiles!

Continuing Care at Home

While a dental cleaning is the only way to completely rid little smiles of harmful plaque and tartar, you can help limit how much accumulates with good oral hygiene habits. For example, make sure your children brush twice a day, just as you do! Kids younger than three should use a rice-sized blot of fluoride toothpaste, and kids over the age of three need a pea-sized amount. As soon as teeth sit side-by-side, they also need to be flossed every evening to remove what a toothbrush alone cannot reach!

If you have any questions about how to protect smiles from home, or about the importance of our six-month preventive visits, then contact our team today. We would love to see your little one soon for a checkup and cleaning, so he or she can enjoy good oral health!

Your Dallas, TX, Pediatric Dentist Keeps Little Smiles Clean

Our team wants to help children maintain optimal oral health! If you would like to learn more about how to help kids enjoy beautiful smiles, then contact your Dallas, TX pediatric dentist, Dr. Marr, by calling (214) 321-4880.