Your Child’s Smile Needs A Spring Cleaning
Spring is here, which means now is a great time to bring your kids in for a routine visit. A cleaning can help boost oral health and keep serious issues like tooth decay at bay. In today’s blog, Pediatric Dental Care of Casa Linda in Dallas, TX, talks about spring cleanings for little smiles!
The Risk of Plaque and Tartar
Why do kids need to have their plaque and tartar buildup removed from their teeth? While brushing and flossing is essential for good oral health, these actions do not remove buildup from the teeth. As bacteria break down and consume particles of sugar and starch, this coats the teeth in plaque, which also ages into tartar with time. The sticky layer can make teeth stains removable, and also weaken enamel to make cavities possible. The same layers can irritate the gums to cause gingivitis in older teens. The buildup needs to be regularly removed every six months starting at around age two to help protect little smiles from painful cavities, and to keep the same smiles bright and beautiful!
Dental Cleaning for Kids
The dental cleaning process is a safe and comfortable for kids of all ages. We will discuss what to expect with them, and carefully explain the tools we use, answering their questions so they feel relaxed and comfortable. We then gently remove the plaque and tartar from their teeth with an ultrasonic scaling device. The device will gently knock the buildup loose. We then follow with a manual pick to extract the more stubborn portions of tartar. The last step is to polish the teeth, which brightens them and makes it more difficult for plaque and tartar to form before your child sees us again in six months.
Brushing and Flossing
Kids also needed to brush and floss in between our routine visits to protect their teeth from cavities. At home, make sure your little ones brush for two minutes in the morning and again before bed, each time using a toothbrush with soft bristles and a toothpaste that contains fluoride. Kids also need to floss before going to bed each evening to remove what a toothbrush alone cannot reach, protecting teeth against cavities. Avoid too much sugar too, and drinking water helps cleanse the mouth of particles left behind by the foods and less healthy drinks they consume.
If you have any questions about scheduling your child’s spring cleaning, or if you want to see us soon, then reach out to our office today to get started!
PDC Kids Provides Clean and Healthy Smiles
Our team is ready to help children of all ages maintain good oral health with routine care. To find out more about improving little smiles, then call Pediatric Dental Care at Casa Linda in Dallas, TX, today at (214) 321-4880.
filed under: Children's Dental Services