A children's dentist can help set your child up for a lifetime of healthy smiles. Taking children to a dentist for preventative treatments that support their oral health is crucial. Checkups, cleanings, fluoride treatments, and dental sealants are among the most important tools a dentist uses to help keep your child's mouth healthy.
Good oral care will help to protect the overall health of a child. Of course, flossing and brushing regularly are important. But visiting the dentist for a cleaning and exam every six months is also a key part of keeping a child's mouth healthy.
So, when should a child start to see a dentist? The answer to this is sooner than one might think. A child should begin seeing the dentist when the first tooth comes in or no later than a year old. This first appointment is a good time for the parent to ask the children's dentist questions about any issues or changes related to the child's mouth. The dentist can also offer the parent tips on properly cleaning the child's teeth.
The children's dentist can look at the gums and teeth during a regular checkup. The dentist can see if there are signs of gum disease or tooth decay. In many cases, the child will receive an X-ray. This X-ray allows the dentist to see the whole mouth, including the roots of the teeth. Thanks to X-rays, the dentist can catch emerging problems early so they can be proactive about treatment. For example, a dentist may notice that a permanent tooth is coming in wrong or signs a child may need orthodontic or teeth straightening treatment in the future.
A teeth cleaning is also part of a child's regular dental visit. This is when a dentist or hygenist removes debris buildup on teeth that daily brushing has missed. As part of the cleaning, a hygenist removes plaque, which is a film of bacteria that forms on teeth. The hygenist will also remove tartar, a hardened plaque that can collect on teeth. Getting rid of both plaque and tartar buildup is vital because they can cause tooth decay and gum disease.
Cavities are common in children. Dentists have found that fluoride can reduce cavities in children. Flouride must be applied to the tooth's surface to make it stronger and more resistant to decay. Flouride can also help repair the earliest signs of tooth decay before it becomes visible. A children's dentist only takes a few minutes to do a fluoride treatment. Often, it involves just painting a solution on the surface of the teeth.
The child cannot eat, drink, or rinse for about half an hour after the treatment. This time will allow them to better absorb the mineral. Depending on the child's oral health and family history, the dentist might recommend regular treatments. These might be done once a year or as often as every three months. The dentist will customize the treatment plan to the child's needs.
A leading reason that children have more cavities is that their molar teeth often have deep grooves in them. It is easy for plaque and bacteria to collect in these groves and quickly form cavities. Even if a child practices good oral hygiene by flossing and brushing daily, they are still likely to get cavities due to these deep groves.
The good news is that a children's dentist can offer an excellent solution in the form of what are called dental sealants. A dental sealant can give the child's teeth more protection against bacteria in the mouth. It can also help to prevent cavities on the tooth's biting surface, such as the biting surfaces of the molars where the deep grooves often are. In addition, once the tooth is sealed, the nooks and crannies will become smoother. That will make them less likely to have bacteria and less likely to develop cavities.
Your child's dentist can help you decide on the right kinds of treatments to get. Many of the procedures only take a few minutes. These can be done during the regular dental exam. Making an appointment today can help you improve your child's oral health.
Request an appointment here: https://alexoldtowndental.com or call Alexandria Old Town Dental at (703) 763-1078 for an appointment in our Alexandria office.
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