Preventive Actions To Protect Your Child’s Smile

Posted December 19, 2024

We have always believed in a preventive approach to dental care, as this can help our young patients avoid the onset of issues like tooth decay and even gingivitis. With a new year days away, now is a chance to schedule their first visit for 2025. In today’s blog, your Dallas, TX, pediatric dentist talks about preventive dentistry for children and how this can help their smiles stay bright and strong!

Dental Checkups and Cleanings

Preventive dentistry always starts with a visit for a checkup. We want to see children every six months for a dental exam starting at around age two. Seeing us twice a year means we can monitor the smile and catch possible problems and complications in the early stages. We will look for common issues like tooth decay, but also take time to make sure baby teeth erupt and fall out as they should so permanent teeth can erupt properly and limit the risk of misalignment. These visits also allow children to become accustomed to seeing the dentist, so they gain a better understanding of their smile and have a reduced risk of dental anxiety, and may continue to see the dentist on their own as adults.

In the same visit, we will take time to clean your teeth properly. A cleaning completely removes the plaque and tartar that accumulates on little smiles, something that brushing and flossing alone cannot do. We will use an ultrasonic scaling device and a manual pick to gently and thoroughly remove the buildup. We then polish the smile so it is more difficult for plaque and tartar to accumulate before their next visit.

Fluoride

As part of our approach to preventive dentistry, our team will also apply fluoride to the teeth in a varnish form. This naturally-occurring mineral has been shown to strengthen enamel, even weakened portions, to make tooth decay less likely. Applying it only takes a few seconds, and kids just need to avoid food and drink for about a half hour as the material cures. We also recommend kids use a fluoride toothpaste for this reason! Children three and younger need a rice-sized amount, while kids older than three need a pea-sized amount.

Dental Sealants

Our team also offers dental sealants to help prevent tooth decay. Children often have trouble reaching the rear teeth when they brush and floss. Which means food and drink particles can remain trapped between these teeth, vulnerable to being consumed by bacteria. This then creates the plaque and tartar that weakens and erodes the outer enamel. Our team will apply a thin layer of acrylic to the rear teeth, which coats them and prevents food and drink particles from being caught between the teeth. Again, kids just need to avoid food and drink for about 30 minutes afterward so it can properly cure. The sealants then have the potential to stay in place for up to ten years.

Brushing and Flossing

We also want to make sure your children are brushing and flossing daily! Kids need to brush in the morning and then again before bed for about two minutes. You can assist babies and toddlers, and monitor your older kids to make sure they brush properly for the total time recommended. As soon as there are teeth sitting side-by-side, kids need to floss to remove the trapped particles of food that a toothbrush alone cannot remove.

Improving Snack and Meal Options

What we eat has a major impact on our smiles! When kids eat a lot of items high in sugar and starch, this could leave behind particles for harmful oral bacteria to break down, creating plaque and wakening enamel to cause cavities. Instead, offer fresh fruits and veggies, or items high in vitamin C and D. Healthy meals and snacks, along with plenty of water, help keep smiles strong and healthy.

If you have any questions about preventive dentistry, or if you would like to schedule your child’s first checkup of 2025, then contact our team today to get started. We want to help your little ones enjoy better oral health and understand the importance of routine care for their teeth and gums.

Talk to Our Team About Preventive Dental Care for Kids

If you have questions about how we can protect kids from issues like tooth decay, 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 preventive dentistry, we are ready to help your little ones enjoy better oral health, and feel proud of their smiles!