Protecting Your Child’s Smile With Preventive Dentistry

Posted March 21, 2024

We believe in a preventive approach to children’s dentistry, so we can help kids maintain good oral health and avoid common concerns like cavities and gingivitis. From checkups and cleanings to dental sealants, we can safeguard little smiles of all ages. In today’s blog, your Dallas, TX, pediatric dentist talks about preventive dental care and how we help kids enjoy good oral health and brighter smiles!

Your Child’s Checkup

Preventive dentistry always starts with a checkup visit. We want to see kids two and older every six months for a checkup, so we monitor their smiles as they grow. Our team will watch for signs of cavities, gingivitis, and developing misalignment, so treatment can be administered to help children enjoy good oral health and avoid issues like premature tooth loss. We also take time to talk to your children, so they feel welcomed and comfortable, and don’t dread their visits to the dentist. Instilling good oral health habits and helping them better understand their oral health also mean they may be more likely to attend the dentist on their own in adulthood, enjoying a lifetime of bright and healthy smiles.

Cleaning the Teeth

In the same visit as the dental exam, we will also conduct a dental cleaning. The process does what brushing and flossing alone cannot, completely removing all plaque and tartar buildup from the surfaces of the smile. The process takes minutes, but helps lower the risk of bad breath, teeth stains, cavities, and even gingivitis. We then polish the teeth to make it more difficult for plaque and tartar to adhere to the surfaces before the next visit, and to also ensure a bright and beautiful smile.

Dental Sealants

As part of our approach to preventive dentistry, we will also offer treatment to lower the risk of cavities. Many kids have trouble reaching the rear teeth, which means food and drink particles can remain lodged between the molars, increasing the risk of tooth decay. But we can place sealants on the rear teeth, which coat them in a layer of acrylic so food and drink particles cannot become stuck between them. The application takes only minutes, and kids just need to avoid food and drink for about 30 minutes afterward. The sealants can stay in place for up to ten years and wear away gradually with time. They tend to cling the longest to the more vulnerable portions of the rear teeth, providing years of quality protection against tooth decay.

Applying Fluoride

With preventive dentistry we also have another treatment option to lower the risk of tooth decay. With fluoride treatments, we apply a special varnish to the teeth. Fluoride is a naturally-occurring mineral that has been shown to strengthen the weakened portions of the teeth to prevent tooth decay. Again, application takes minutes and we just need kids to avoid food and drink for about a half hour as it cures fully. We apply this every six months as part of the checkup visit to keep little smiles strong. Kids also need to use toothpaste that contains fluoride too. Kids there and younger need to use a rice sized amount each time they brush, and kids over the age of three should use a pea sized amount.

Prevention Care at Home

Preventive dentistry can also be done at home, protecting little smiles in between your six child’s six month checkup and cleaning visits. For example, you should clean your baby’s teeth twice a day with a bit of gauze or cloth. For toddlers you can assist them with an age-appropriate toothbrush, and floss between their teeth with a pick once there are teeth sitting side-by-side. For older kids, you can monitor them or even time them with a song, app, or sand timer to ensure they are brushing for two minutes in the morning and at night. Again, flossing is crucial for keeping gums and teeth healthy, and should be done before they brush the second time each evening. What they eat is a factor too, as too much sugar and starch are a recipe for tooth decay. Be sure to offer smile healthy options too!

If you have any questions about how our team will protect little smiles with preventive dentistry, or about how to care for your own child’s smile at home, then contact our team today to learn more.

Schedule Your Child’s Dental Appointment Today!

Our team can offer care to manage your child’s oral health and keep cavities at bay. To learn more about our approach to preventive dentistry, then please contact your Dallas, TX pediatric dentist, Dr. Marr, by calling (214) 321-4880.