We want to help children in our community enjoy good oral health, avoiding issues that can threaten teeth like tooth decay and gingivitis. To do so, we can offer children’s dentistry! In today’s blog, your Mansfield, TX, family dentist talks about how we help little smiles with children’s dentistry.
Checkups and Cleanings for Kids
Just like you, kids need to undergo routine checkups and cleanings. Their first dental exam, a simple wellness visit, should happen within six months of the first baby tooth’s eruption. At age two, we will recommend routine visits every six months. The checkup and cleaning allow us to catch cavities early and treat them, and then address issues like gingivitis and make sure baby teeth arrive and fall out on time to pave the way for proper permanent tooth arrival. We can also instill good oral hygiene habits and help them better understand their smiles. Routine visits also lower the risk of dental anxiety!
In the same visit, we will take time to clean the teeth, removing all plaque and tartar from them to lower the risk of issues like cavities and gingivitis, and helping patients enjoy brighter and healthier smiles!
Preventing Tooth Decay
Cavities are a widespread issue for kids, which is why we want to help with tooth decay prevention. For example, as part of their routine checkup and cleaning visit, we can apply fluoride to the teeth in a varnish form, which helps keep the outer enamel strong and safeguards the smile against the onset of cavities. We can also coat the rear teeth in dental sealants, which prevent food and drink particles from being caught between the hard-to-reach rear teeth, lowering cavity risk as they can stay in place for up to ten years in some cases!
The Importance of Treating a Cavity
Sometimes, parents assume that since baby teeth fall out, there is no need to treat a cavity in them. While it’s true baby teeth fall out on their own, this could happen months or even years after the formation of the cavity, which means ignoring the issue not only leads to painful symptoms like toothaches, but could allow infection to develop that causes premature tooth loss. When kids lose baby teeth early, this can alter alignment and lead to an increased risk for misalignment, so braces may be needed later in life. When your child has a toothache, be sure to let us know right away!
If you have any questions about children’s dentistry, then contact our team today!
Our Team Offers Children’s Dentistry
We want to help kids of all ages enjoy better oral health and smiles that shine. To learn more about our approach to children’s dentistry or schedule your appointment, call our Mansfield, TX, dental team today at 817-473-6227.
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