Without routine care, your little ones could be more likely to develop painful cavities, which could be linked to dental infections, premature tooth loss, and misalignment, among other issues. In today’s blog, your Newhall, CA, dentist explains how our preventive treatments for kids can help safeguard little smiles against cavities.
Safeguarding Little Smiles
With our preventive treatment options, our team can help protect the teeth from developing cavities. For example, during your child’s routine checkup and cleaning visits, we will apply fluoride in a varnish form to the teeth. The process only takes a few minutes, and then helps re-mineralize the outer enamel to reduce the risk of tooth decay forming.
Children also have trouble reaching the rear teeth when they brush and floss, which means food could become caught between them and be broken down by bacteria, causing tooth decay over time. However, a dental sealant places a plastic coating over the rear teeth to prevent food from becoming stuck between them. Placement only takes a few minutes, and the sealants stay in place for years and wear away naturally with time.
Preventing Cavities at Home
Kids also need to practice good homecare to avoid the onset of cavities and other issues. For example, make time to assist, or monitor, your kids as they brush their teeth in the morning for two minutes and again before going to bed. Use a fluoride toothpaste when you do, and make sure the toothbrush is age-appropriate. Kids also need to start flossing once there are teeth sitting next to each other in the smile. Children usually start with a floss pick, and upgrade to floss tape later as they become more comfortable with the process.
Checkups and Cleanings
Your child also benefits from seeing us every six months for a checkup and cleaning! A checkup means an opportunity to examine the smile and identify areas of concern in the earliest stages. We then treat them before your child suffers discomfort or risks losing a tooth prematurely. These visits have also been known to reduce dental anxiety and instill good hygiene habits. We also clean the teeth, which means removing all plaque and tartar from the surfaces of the teeth. Removing plaque reduces the risk of decay, infection, and gingivitis, and also brightens the teeth and freshens breath! If you would like to learn more about our preventive treatments, or if you’re ready to schedule a visit for your little one, then please contact our team today!
Do You Have Questions About Children’s Dentistry?
We want to help kids of all ages continue to enjoy strong, healthy smiles. To learn more about children’s dental care, then please schedule a consultation by calling Newhall Dental Arts in Newhall, CA, today at (661) 259-7760.