Is It Time For Your Little One’s Dental Appointment?

By now a number of adults are aware of the negative impact of oral bacteria within their grin. From moderate to severe decay to periodontal infections and even tooth loss, it is important to recognize that following a detailed preventive dental routine plays a large role in avoiding these and many other concerns. That being said, it is never too early to start active care. In today’s blog, your Dallas, TX dentist will take a look at children’s dentistry and the importance of attending regular checkups, as well as what steps your family can take at home in order to ensure a lifelong grin.

Ensuring Healthy Development

Younger smiles need just as much care as adult grins, if not more. Because their structures are developing and growing, it is important to monitor healthy development and keep an eye on potential concerns, which is why we recommend bringing in your child for a routine examination and cleaning at least once every six months. This also allows us to monitor any minor concerns that may develop and successfully treat them before they become major.

During your child’s checkup, our team will pay close mind to check the teeth and surrounding structures for signs of damage, trauma, decay, or infection. We will also perform an oral cancer screening and check the lips, tongue, cheeks, and throat for any sign of abnormalities such as a rough patch or bump. Following the checkup, our team will perform a gentle cleaning so as to remove any deposits of plaque or tartar buildup.

Added Strength with Topical Treatments

While you may be instilling excellent preventive habits at home, sometimes little grins need an added boost of strength. In order to protect from the myriad of concerns that could impact your child’s smile, our team can offer a simple dental sealant or fluoride treatment. With a sealant, a thin layer of acrylic is painted over the back molars to occupy the nooks and crevices where bacteria like to hide, protecting the teeth from decay. A fluoride treatment consists of a topical gel that is added to the front of your little one’s teeth in order to help rebuild weakened sections of enamel.

Steps You Can Take at Home

Dental exams are a major part of a healthy routine, but keep in mind that there are steps your family can take at home as well. Making sure to keep in mind the negative effects some foods and beverages have on your smile – including citrus products and beverages with staining pigmentations – as well as making sure to properly brush and floss regularly will go a long way.

Schedule Your Visit

It is never too early to get your child excited about their dental checkup, and we are here to help. Contact Gentle Smiles Family Dentistry in Dallas, TX by calling 972-329-7645 to learn more about the importance of preventive dentistry or to schedule your appointment today.