Kids need to see our team every six months, just like adults do, in order to avoid issues like tooth decay and infection. With routine care, we can ensure kids maintain good oral health! In today’s blog, your Ankeny, IA, dentist talks about how we protect little smiles from cavities with children’s dentistry.
Childhood Tooth Decay
With Halloween only a couple weeks away and the holidays right behind it, this is a time of year that leads to tooth decay. Increased sugar consumption leaves behind the particles that feed harmful bacteria and create plaque buildup. The layers of plaque then weaken and erode the outer enamel and make the onset of painful toothaches and tooth decay possible. But we want to help protect little smiles with dental cleanings and preventive treatments, such as fluoride varnish and dental sealants. Remember, you can help too by making sure your kids brush and floss daily, and limiting the snacks and drinks that contain a high amount of sugar. This includes seemingly positive options like fruit juices and sports drinks!
Cleaning Little Smiles
For kids two and older, we want to see them every six months for a routine checkup and cleaning. With the checkup portion, we examine their smiles with advanced digital imaging and then identify issues that need attention, such as tooth decay. With the cleaning, we help prevent cavities by thoroughly and gently removing all plaque and tartar from the teeth. As we do, this helps protect the outer enamel and keep smiles cavity-free. We then polish the teeth to brighten them and make it more difficult for plaque and tartar to accumulate before your little one sees us again for their next preventive visit.
Fluoride and Dental Sealants
During the checkup and cleaning appointment, we could coat the teeth in a fluoride varnish which has been shown to strengthen the outer enamel, even erode portions that could leads to tooth decay. Applying this only takes a few seconds and kids just have to avoid food and drink for about a half hour as the material cures. With dental sealants, we add a thin acrylic coating to the rear teeth, which are difficult for kids to reach when they brush and floss. This means food and drink particles can no longer be trapped between the molars, which lowers the risk of tooth decay significantly. These can then stay in place for up to ten years!
If you have any questions about children’s dentistry, then contact our team today!
Dental Impressions Provides Children’s Dentistry
Our team is ready to schedule a visit for your little one! To schedule an appointment for a children’s dentistry, then call Dental Impressions in Ankeny, IA today at (515) 965-0230.
