Having a child is one of the most exciting times in your life. Many new parents want the best for their child, but it can be easy to forget about the importance of teeth cleanings.
While you probably take your child to the doctor regularly, they also need to see a dentist. The dentist can clean your child’s teeth and examine them for any problems.
Want to know more about why and when your child should visit the dentist?
Read on.
Teeth Cleanings for Kids
Most adults know how important it is to get regular teeth cleanings. Of course, brushing and flossing daily can help keep your teeth clean.
However, there’s nothing like the feeling of your teeth after a dentist visit. The smooth and clean feeling is hard to achieve at home.
Now, you may wonder why you should take your child in for teeth cleanings. But even with baby teeth, kids can benefit from professional teeth cleaning.
Not only will it keep their baby teeth clean and healthy, but it can help kids prepare for future dentist appointments. Then, visiting the dentist won’t seem so scary.
Why It’s Important
Teeth cleanings are important for adults and children because keeping your teeth clean can help prevent cavities or other dental problems. After a cleaning, the dentist can examine your child’s teeth.
If there is a problem, your dentist can suggest means to correct it. However, many kids won’t have to worry about serious dental problems until they’re older.
Still, you should make regular teeth cleanings a part of your child’s routine. It’s not uncommon for people to be afraid of the dentist. If your child isn’t used to dental visits, they won’t understand that those visits are healthy and essential.
While your child might not be comfortable with the dentist, going regularly can help keep your child’s teeth clean and pain-free. Keeping your child’s teeth clean can also help with their overall health.
When to Start
Once you understand why your child needs teeth cleanings, you should determine when to take them for their first one.
According to the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry, you should take your child after their first tooth comes through.
However, you also should take them in before their first birthday.
While your pediatrician will examine your baby’s teeth and gums, a pediatric dentist can offer more specialized care. Taking your child to the dentist is especially important if you have a family history of dental problems.
Then, you can start a good teeth cleaning habit early on so that your child can keep their teeth healthy.
How to Prepare for Your Child’s First Teeth Cleaning
Once you notice your child is starting to grow in their baby teeth, make an appointment with a local pediatric dentist.
Here’s what you and your child can expect during a professional teeth cleaning.
- The dentist will look at the soft tissue and any teeth that your child has
- Your child’s gums and the layout of the teeth are also considered
- You can ask your dentist about your child’s habits, such as pacifiers or thumb-sucking
- If there are a few teeth, they may be cleaned and polished
- Some visits may involve x-rays
Before the visit, stay calm. Keep your child busy with toys or other activities. Once you get to the appointment, you should remain calm so that your child doesn’t sense any stress.
Communicate with your dentist if your child starts to act up during the visit. Teeth cleanings shouldn’t be painful, but your dentist will need to get a good look at your child’s teeth so that they can clean them.
How Often to Do It
After your child’s first teeth cleaning, you should take them to the dentist every six months. The same rule applies to older children and adults.
Visiting the dentist is an easy way to stay on top of your oral health. If your child does develop cavities or other issues, you can catch it early during a dentist appointment.
While you can help your child maintain their teeth at home, a dentist can look for signs of problems that you may not notice.
Your child can get x-rays and get some fluoride during the visit, which can also help with the health of their teeth.
Does Flossing Help?
Flossing does help your child’s dental health. However, regular brushing and flossing aren’t a replacement for teeth cleanings.
Of course, flossing can make the cleaning easier for your child and the hygienist. If there aren’t bits of food between the teeth, the cleaning may not be as complicated.
The same is true of brushing since you can reduce plaques. Plus, your pediatric dentist can recommend the best toothbrush and toothpaste to keep your child’s teeth healthy.
Just as you should take your child to the doctor, you should take them to the dentist. It will help their oral health and the health of their whole body.
What Else Can Parents Do?
After and between teeth cleanings, you should reinforce good dental health habits. As your child grows up, you can demonstrate proper brushing.
Make sure you brush long enough and that your child does the same. If they’re younger, you can help them brush so that they reach all of the nooks and crannies.
Your child will learn a lot from watching what you do. If you have regular teeth cleanings and brush and floss at home, your child will do that, too.
On the other hand, if you don’t have good dental hygiene, it will be harder for your child to understand why it’s so important.
Your Child’s Key to Health
Proper dental health is essential to overall health and wellbeing. Because of this, you should get teeth cleanings for your child as soon as they start to grow their teeth.
After that, regular visits can help keep their teeth healthy. If a problem develops, you can catch it early during a routine dentist appointment.
By getting teeth cleanings early, you can reinforce these habits for your child, which can help them later in life.
Are you ready to schedule a professional teeth cleaning for your child?
Contact us to book an appointment.