Tips For Keeping Your Child’s Smile Clean
When we care for our smiles at home and with regular six-month visits, we fight issues linked to tooth decay. The same goes for kids! Which is why keeping their smiles clean is so important. In today’s blog, your Dallas, TX, pediatric dentist talks about dental cleaning and our recommended brushing and flossing habits.
The Risks of Plaque and Tartar Buildup
Over time, harmful oral bacteria will consume the particles of sugar and starch left behind by the foods and drinks we consume. Once this occurs, this elevates oral acidity and coats the teeth in a bacterial byproduct known as plaque, which hardens with time into tartar. The buildup not only makes stains more visible and causes bad breath, but can also erode enamel to make cavities more likely. The same layers can also increase the risk of gingivitis. While brushing and flossing can help limit the severity of buildup, only a professional cleaning can remove the buildup completely, which is why we recommend one every six months.
Dental Cleanings
The process is simple. Our team will use an ultrasonic scaling device and a manual tool to gently break up and remove all plaque and tartar. Once we do, we will polish the teeth to not only brighten them, but make it more difficult for plaque and tartar to adhere to the surfaces before your child’s next visit. The process takes only a short period, and helps kids enjoy better oral health and brighter smiles. Seeing us on a regular basis can also help protect your child from dental anxiety, and allows us the chance to instill good oral health habits and enable them to better understand the importance of good oral health.
Brushing and Flossing at Home
While a cleaning is essential every six months starting around age two, we also want kids to brush and floss properly to limit buildup severity. For babies and toddlers, you can help them with age-appropriate toothbrushes and a rice sized amount of fluoride toothpaste. For older kids, you can monitor them and time them to ensure proper cleaning, and they can use a pea sized amount of fluoride toothpaste. Kids should brush in the morning and evening for two minutes, and floss every evening before they brush the second time. They can use floss tape or a pick, whichever is easier for them.
If you have any questions about how we protect little kids from the onset of tooth decay and other issues with a regular cleaning visit, then contact our team today to learn more.
Do You Have Questions About Safeguarding Little Smiles?
Our team is ready to help your kids enjoy optimal oral health. To learn more about our approach to keeping children’s smiles healthy and strong, then please contact your Dallas, TX pediatric dentist, Dr. Marr, by calling (214) 321-4880.
filed under: Children's Dental Services