Keeping Your Child’s Smile Healthy

We want your little ones to enjoy optimal oral health, especially throughout the holidays, when they will be inundated with sugary sweets. In today’s blog, your Newhall, CA, dentist talks about the treatments and routine care that can help prevent tooth decay and gingivitis, and help your children gain a better understanding of their oral health.

Routine Visits

Once a child reaches the age of two, routine checkups and cleanings every six months are highly recommended. Not only do these visits instill good habits and reduce dental anxiety, but they allow our team to monitor the smile as it grows and changes, offering treatment to address problems in the earliest stages and prevent cavities or premature tooth loss. We also clean the teeth, which removes plaque and reduces the risk of cavities and gingivitis. If you can, try to schedule your child’s next visit soon, before the new year arrives!

Preventive Treatments

We also have two very unique treatments to help reduce the risk of cavities in young children. The first is a fluoride varnish. Fluoride is a naturally-occurring mineral, one that has been shown to strengthen outer enamel and protect smiles of all ages from cavities. For kids, we can apply a special varnish in just a few minutes to the teeth, safeguarding them. We can apply the varnish as part of their regular checkup and cleaning visits. We also have dental sealants. The rear teeth are often difficult for little kids to reach when they brush and floss their teeth. To prevent food from becoming trapped between these teeth and cause tooth decay, we place a special acrylic coating on the rear teeth. The coating prevents food from becoming stuck between them and stays in place for years, wearing away naturally with time. We can re-apply if necessary in future visits!

Brushing and Flossing at Home

Children also need to care for their teeth daily, which helps control plaque buildup and protect the smile in between routine checkup and cleaning visits. Like you, children need to brush for two minutes when they wake up and again before going to bed. Kids of all ages sold use a fluoride toothpaste and floss as well. You may need to assist your younger kids and supervise your older ones to ensure they continue to practice optimal oral hygiene habits. If you have any questions about homecare or our preventive treatments, then please contact our team today.

Do You Have Questions About Children’s Dentistry?

Kids need routine care both at home and in our office to enjoy optimal oral health and avoid cavities and more. To learn more about our children’s treatment options, then please schedule a consultation by calling Newhall Dental Arts in Newhall, CA, today at (661) 259-7760.