How Often Should Children See The Dentist?

Posted May 8, 2020

At the moment, we’re starting preparations to eventually open our office and begin seeing families for preventive and general treatments. Which is why today’s blog is all about checkups and cleanings, and when and how often kids should undergo preventive exams. Your Dallas, TX, pediatric dentist is also looking what you should be doing from home to keep your child’s smile healthy and strong.

The First Visit

When should a child attend his or her first dental checkup? We recommend a visit within six months of the first baby’s tooth arrival. Typically, this happens around age one. During this initial visit, we will carefully examine your child’s smile to ensure teeth are erupting properly, and the visit itself will not involve any treatment. Afterward, we will suggest routine visits every few months to continue to monitor your child’s smile as your little one grows!

Checkups and Cleanings

Every six months, kids should see our team for a checkup and cleaning. With a checkup, we have the opportunity to watch the smile for the earliest indicators of trouble, from the warning signs of decay to the earliest warnings of developing misalignment or gingivitis. Which means we can then administer treatment before the issue causes discomfort or puts their oral health at risk. Treating cavities, even in baby teeth, help prevent infection and the risk of losing a tooth prematurely, which could otherwise be a major factor in the onset of dental misalignment!

Our team will also clean the teeth, which involves gently and carefully removing all plaque and tartar from your smile. Plaque occurs when bacteria break down food particles, coating the teeth in a sticky layer that hardens over time into tartar. Unless removed, this layer could increase the risk of cavities and gingivitis, as well as bad breath and stained teeth.

In the Meantime

While home with your family, continue to help your little ones brush and floss daily to remove trapped food particles and control the severity of plaque buildup until we can see your little one for a checkup and cleaning. Be sure they brush twice daily, and for kids three and older, use a rice-size blot of fluoride toothpaste when cleaning the teeth. Once there are teeth sitting side-by-side, your little one also needs to floss nightly before bed. If you have any questions about routine exams and cleanings, or about proper homecare habits, then contact our team today.

Do You Have Questions About Preventive Care for Children?

We want families to understand the importance of routine care both at home and in our office. To learn more,  by calling Pediatric Dental Care at Casa Linda in Dallas, TX today at 214-321-4880. We proudly serve patients who live around Casa Linda and all surrounding Dallas communities.