Categories: Uncategorized

It’s Time for Your Little One’s Checkup!

It goes without saying that brushing and flossing regularly are the crux of excellent oral health, but bear in mind that other factors play a role as well. In fact, preventive care at home, attending routine dental visits, and even watching the types of foods and beverages you consume all work together and contribute to the status of your smile. The same can be said for little grins, and it is never too early to begin teaching these excellent habits. In today’s blog, your Dallas, TX dentist will look at what is covered under your child’s checkup and how we can help build up their strength, paving the way for a healthy grin for life.

Examining for Healthy Development

Keeping your child’s dental health in mind and starting off this priority strong early on is the first step to healthy development. In fact, we recommend bringing. Your little one in for their first dental visit at the onset of their very first tooth, or by the time of their first birthday. This allows our team to begin the process of monitoring tooth development as well as familiarizes your children with our office and environment. By the age of three, we will begin seeing your child regularly for routine checkups and cleanings every six months, or twice a year. During this process, we will gently examine the teeth and surrounding oral structures for any signs of damage, threat, or concern such as decay, broken or chipped teeth, lodged structures, and more. We will also pay mind to look for and identify other abnormalities such as lumps or rough patches and monitor this development to ensure the health of your child.

Cleaning Away Bacteria

In addition to your child’s examination, we will provide a careful but thorough clean to remove any deposits of plaque or tartar. Oral bacteria are present in all grins, but it takes consistent care to keep them from growing and damaging teeth. The saying says that “candy rots your teeth,” and in many respects that is true! Oral bacteria like to nestle and thrive in warm, moist areas and feed on sugar. Sugar causes them to secrete harmful acids that damage a tooth’s natural structure. If allowed to persist, they can cause buildup of plaque and tartar, as well as cause cavities. We will carefully remove these bacteria and polish the teeth so as to prevent them from easily reattaching.

Treatments for Added Strength

Because younger smiles are still developing, sometimes they need a little boost of strength. Our team can provide an added layer of protection for your child’s smile with the help of dental fluoride, a naturally-occurring mineral that is present in enamel to protect your teeth. We also utilize a dental sealant treatment, which involves painting a thin layer of acrylic over the surfaces of your little one’s molars to prevent bacteria from nestling in the nooks and crannies. For more information, contact our team.