Daily brushing and flossing are two of the easiest and most effective ways to avoid childhood cavities (caries). We encourage children to brush for at least two minutes, two times a day. Toothbrushes made specifically for children should be used, with smaller heads that fit small mouths, and soft, rounded bristles designed to protect gums and enamel. For more information on brushing and flossing, please see the information outlined below.
All of us need a little help with keeping our teeth healthy and strong. When your child comes to North Royalton Pediatric Dentistry for their appointment we can offer a fluoride treatment to keep them smiling and keeping their teeth their whitest.
Tooth decay is caused by bacteria in the mouth producing acidic conditions while interacting with the food we eat. Brushing and flossing regularly help keep the surfaces of teeth free of bacteria and food buildup and prevent decay. However, even with regular home dental hygiene, it can be difficult to keep teeth entirely clean. The uneven pitted chewing surfaces of the molars can be particularly difficult to keep clean. This is where dental sealants enter the picture.
Daily brushing and flossing refers to the act of brushing your teeth with a fluoride toothpaste and utilizing a flossing tool (dental floss, water pick, etc.) to keep your teeth clean. By establishing good daily brushing and flossing routines early in your children, you’ll help set them up for good basic dental care throughout their lifetime. These good dental health habits are the best way for your child to prevent gum disease and tooth decay.
Some parents can overlook the basic necessities of brushing and flossing for themselves and their children. North Royalton Pediatric Dentistry believes that all children should have a good foundation of oral hygiene; which means practicing and utilizing the best techniques for daily brushing and flossing. Children will need assistance brushing and flossing their teeth until age six or seven. You should set an example for your children by demonstrating proper brushing and flossing techniques.
Visiting a pediatric dentist is one of the best ways for kids to learn the practices for keeping their mouth clean, healthy, and happy. By coming into our office, we will be able to demonstrate for you and your child the proper techniques for brushing and flossing your teeth. For example, it is important to focus on the back molars as those teeth are often neglected by brushing. Here are some general tips that can help you and your child:
Daily brushing disrupts dental plaque and keeps the teeth clean. But if left undisturbed for too long, plaque hardens into deposits of dental calculus, or tartar. Tartar is too hard to be removed by brushing and flossing, and can only be cleaned away by a dentist.
Most people accumulate at least a little tartar between dental visits, but children especially are in danger of tartar buildup, as they may not have developed the skills to care for their teeth yet. Tartar leads to tooth decay and gum disease, so regular tartar removal is an essential step in caring for their dental health. In order to keep your child’s teeth healthy, they need regular cleanings by a dentist.
As plaque hardens into tartar, it leaches essential minerals including fluoride from your child’s teeth. Dental enamel needs fluoride to stay strong, bright, and hard. While a healthy diet can help to replenish the minerals your child’s teeth lose over time, this is often not enough to keep teeth at their best. Regular fluoride treatments at our office provide an extra boost to keep your child’s teeth healthy and fight off decay.
When cavities and other dental problems do emerge, it’s always best to catch them early. Long before they become easily visible or begin to hurt, we can spot any changes in your child’s dental health. The earlier problems are spotted, the easier they are to treat. Regular exams save you time, money, and trouble in the long run.
Many dentists offer these services, but only a pediatric dentist like Dr. Taylor is specially trained to provide them to children. Your child’s teeth are at a different stage of development than an adult’s, and have specialized needs that we can address. At North Royalton Pediatric Dentistry, we are also committed to providing your child with compassionate care and a positive experience that will let them leave our office smiling.
Dental sealants are a great option for preventing decay in your child’s permanent molars. Sealants are thin, durable coatings of a plastic material applied to the chewing surfaces of your child’s molars, ideally soon after the emergence of the child’s permanent molars. By filling in the pits and fissures of the molars, sealants keep these problem areas free of bacteria and food, in turn preventing decay. The sealants do not interfere with chewing or talking, and they aren’t visually obtrusive either. Though your child may be able to feel the sealants with his or her tongue, he or she will quickly forget the sealants are there. This is a quick, simple, and unobtrusive way to help protect your child’s teeth, and the sealants will stay in place for as long as five to ten years, preventing decay all the while. These sealants, along with good oral hygiene habits and regular checkups will help your child have healthy teeth into adulthood.
