Dental Cleanings Fight Harmful Plaque Buildup
Even if your kids brush and floss each and every day, they should still see our team once every six months to have their teeth cleaned. Otherwise, plaque buildup could coat the teeth, harden into tartar, and cause serious problems! In today’s blog, your Dallas, TX, pediatric dentist talks about the benefits of a professional dental cleaning.
Plaque and Children’s Oral Health
When kids consume foods and drinks high in sugar, this leaves particles behind on and between the teeth. Over time, harmful oral bacteria will break down the particles to increase the level of oral acidity and coat the teeth in plaque. The sticky layer then hardens into tartar with time. Brushing and flossing alone cannot remove these layers, and they can weaken and erode the outer enamel to make tooth decay possible. For older kids, this is also a factor behind gingivitis. These layers are also linked to teeth stains and bad breath. To help protect smiles from cavities and infections, we can remove the buildup from the teeth in six-month cleaning visits.
The Cleaning Process
The dental cleaning is a simple process. Our team will use an ultrasonic scaling device and a manual tool to gently and thoroughly break up and remove all plaque and tartar buildup. We then polish the teeth for a brighter appearance and to make it more difficult for plaque and tartar buildup to form in between your child’s six-month visits. In the same visit, we may also apply fluoride to the teeth to lower the risk of cavities by strengthening the outer enamel. We could also discuss dental sealants to coat the rear teeth, which are often hard for kids to reach when they brush and floss.
Continue the Fight at Home!
You can help control buildup in between cleaning visits with daily oral hygiene habits. Make sure your child brushes for two minutes in the morning and at night, and that they floss before going to bed each evening. Try to cut back on the sugar in their diet too. These actions help lower the risk of cavities and buildup, so your children can smile with confidence and avoid discomfort. If you have any questions about how we protect little smiles of all ages with a dental cleaning, or if you would like to schedule your child’s next visit, then contact our team today to learn more.
Schedule a Visit for Your Child’s Preventive Appointment
If you have questions about how we clean little smiles or if you would like to schedule an appointment with our team, call your Dallas, TX pediatric dentist, Dr. Marr, at (214) 321-4880. With routine preventive care, we can help kids maintain their smiles and enjoy better oral health.
filed under: Family Dentistry