Keeping Their Smiles Healthy After Valentine’s Day Treats

If your children had a class party for Valentine’s Day, they may be excited to eat the leftover treats and snacks given to them. While these festivities can be fun and exciting for your kids, it is important to take proper precautions to keep their pearly whites safe. Your Ankeny, IA, dentist is here today with helpful tips and reminders to avoid dental concerns.

Bring Them In For A Checkup

Just like you, your children should be seeing the dentist twice a year for a checkup. If their last visit was in August, it is time for their next appointment. These examinations help remove plaque buildup that can lead to cavities, detect problems early, and help maintain your little one’s oral health. If your dentist has any concerns regarding your child, they will discuss them with you and create a helpful treatment plan. A common problem that younger patients face is cavities. This may be due to improper hygiene routine or their snacking habits. To help treat decay, a filling can be done to restore the tooth.

Remind Your Child To Have Sweets In Moderation

We don’t want your kid to miss out on this exciting tradition, but you can try to limit their intake of sugar by offering alternatives. You can offer them dark chocolate instead of regular and try to offer them a few pieces each day. While sugar is not inherently bad, it can create a sticky film on your teeth. This buildup can lead to the formation of cavities. If your child already has dental decay, constant snacking or drinking sugary beverages can make the problem worse. This could potentially lead to the area becoming infected, which will require invasive restorations to repair it. To avoid this, make sure that your little one sees the dentist biannually to check for cavities.

Talk To Your Dentist About Extra Protective Measures

If your child gets cavities often, you can ask their dentist about sealants or fluoride treatment. This gives your little one extra defense against decay. Fluoride is a mineral that can be used to restrengthen the enamel. It can become worn down over time due to certain foods, dry mouth, and other conditions. The fluoride can be applied to the teeth after their cleaning. To protect the back molars, sealants can be added. This is a thin layer applied to the back teeth. Our molars help us chew food, and particles can often get stuck in the grooves. For extra protection, your dentist can add acrylic sealants to the area. As a result, the chances of needing restorative work in the future can be lessened.

Schedule Their Cleaning Today

You can bring your whole family in for a checkup. To schedule an appointment with Dental Impressions in Ankeny, IA, call us at 515.965.0230.