Protecting Your Children’s Smiles During The Holidays

Posted December 18, 2023

Our team wants to make sure that your kids don’t end the holiday season with smiles weakening and on the verge of developing tooth decay! Which is why we have a few tips for keeping teeth and gums strong, including better homecare habits and scheduling a final 2023 visit. In today’s blog, your Dallas, TX, pediatric dentist talks about improving smile care during the holidays!

Checkups and Cleanings

Now is a great time to schedule your child’ last checkup and cleaning of the year. We can see your little one and conduct a detailed examination with advanced imaging technology, which allows our team to watch for issues like tooth decay and gingivitis. If we find issues that need treatment, we can address them, often in one visit. In the same sitting, our team can conduct a cleaning to remove harmful plaque and tartar from the teeth. Doing so helps lower the risk of tooth decay and gingivitis, and fights bad breath and teeth stains too.

Preventive Treatments

In the same visit, we could also offer unique preventive treatments that help lower the risk of tooth decay for children of all ages. For example, we could apply a fluoride varnish to the surfaces of the teeth that protect smiles from tooth decay by strengthening the weakened portions of outer enamel. The application takes minutes and kids just need to avoid food and drink for about 30 minutes. We also recommend kids use fluoride toothpaste when they brush as well. Children three and younger need to use a rice sized amount, and kids three and older need a pea-sized blot.

We also have dental sealants, a special plastic coating we add to the molars. These rear teeth are often hard for kids to reach when they brush and floss, which leaves them more vulnerable to tooth decay. But the sealants coat these teeth so food and drink particles don’t cling to these teeth or become stuck between them. Application takes only a few minutes and again kids need to avoid food and drink for about 30 minutes. The sealants can stay in place for years to come and wear away gradually with time.

Dental Restorations

If your child has cavities or dental damage, or even issues with overall bite balance and chewing function, then we can help with a restoration. Our fillings are made with a metal-free composite resin that is safe for all ages. Placing only takes one visit, and we can shade the material to blend with the rest of your smile seamlessly. The same material can also repair minor damage following a dental emergency too.

We also have crowns, restorations that cover the entire visible portion of a tooth. We can create them from stainless steel, usually for the side and rear teeth that endure greater bite forces. We also have zirconia crowns for the front facing ones, which are more lifelike in appearance. These can repair the tooth and stay in place for years to come.

Better Homecare Habits

We also want to make sure kids are caring for their smiles from home as well. During the holiday season and every other day of the year, kids need to brush when they wake up and then again in the evening for about two minutes with a soft-bristled toothbrush and fluoride toothpaste. Every evening before they brush the second time, kids also need to floss thoroughly. When they floss, they clean the areas between the teeth and along the gum line that brushing alone cannot do. You can help them or monitor them to make sure they clean their teeth properly!

Resolutions

With the year coming to a close, now is a great time to make some resolutions for the new year. Try to make 2023 the year everyone brushes their teeth twice a day, flosses every evening, and cut back on the sugar and starch in their diet. Be sure your little ones also attend a checkup and cleaning every six months, so we can keep smiles strong and healthy for years to come, and help kids avoid issues like dental anxiety. If you have any questions about our approach to checkups and cleanings, or if you would like to schedule a visit to address any concerns with your child’s smile, then please reach out to our office today to learn more. We want to make 2024 the year children of all ages in our community enjoy their best smiles!

Make Your Child’s Visit Today

We want to make sure you and your children know how to care for your smiles, protecting them all year long. To learn more about our approach to children’s dental care, please contact your Dallas, TX pediatric dentist, Dr. Marr, by calling (214) 321-4880.