Get It Done In Year One!
The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry (AAPD), American Dental Association (ADA) and the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) all recommend a dental visit by your child's first birthday (and we do, too!)
-Proper care for baby teeth fosters good nutrition by permitting proper chewing, aids speech development and helps proper development of permanent teeth by saving space for them.
-Pediatric dentists can detect early tooth decay, provide parents with information on proper oral and facial development, determine fluoride needs and more!
-Delayed diagnosis of dental disease or undetected and untreated tooth decay can result in problems (infection, loss of teeth)- leading to more extensive and costly care.
-Establishing a "dental home" means that your child's oral health care is delivered in a comprehensive, continuously accessible and family-centered way by a licensed dentist.
Cleanings
Your dentist or dental hygienist will perform the teeth cleaning. This involves removing the tartar that develops in areas difficult to reach with routine daily brushing.
During the cleaning process various instruments are used to perform tooth scaling, tooth polishing and debridement (removal of plaque and calculus that have accumulated on the teeth). These procedures remove hard and soft deposits which prevents gum disease and cavities from occuring.
Daily flossing and brushing help prevent unscheduled visits to the dentist when combined with annual dental exams and dental teeth cleanings every 6 months. Also important for avoiding tarter build-up, cavities and gum disease is a healthy diet.
Why regular dental cleanings are important:
- Help prevent bad breath
- Maintain a bright and white smile
- Help prevent Gum Disease
- Detect dental problems early
- Help oral cancer
- Maintain good physical health
Oral Hygiene
Dental hygiene or oral hygiene means maintenance of the mouth, teeth and gums. Oral hygiene is made up of at-home daily maintenance and regular visits to your dentist. The daily brushing and flossing you do at home combined with the professional cleanings provided by your dentist and dental hygienist will ensure you keep your natural teeth for a life time.
The Dental Hygiene process...
No matter how thorough an at-home brushing and flossing routine may be, calculus will build up on the teeth over time. As calculus builds below the gum line, bacteria eventually invade the area with the potential to create a host of dental problems. A dental hygienist is trained to eliminate this calculus buildup and eliminate this threat to one’s health.
Dental hygienists are specialists at scraping away the hard plaque and removing calculus deposits. They also take X-rays and look for changes to the patient’s bite.
When the hygienist is done cleaning, the dentist will conduct further examination of the gums and mouth for signs of tooth decay or gum disease. The American Dental Association suggests patients schedule a visit to the dentist and dental hygienist twice a year to guarantee good oral hygiene.
Fluoride Treatments
Fluoride is naturally present in teeth and strengthens teeth while also preventing teeth decay.
Brushing with toothpaste containing fluoride twice a day and flossing goes a long way in preventing tooth decay. It is recommended that you brush prior to going to bed so the fluoride can remain on your teeth during the night.
- Brush at least twice a day beginning when teeth come in (especially after meals/snacks/juice/milk and before bedtime);
- Floss your child's teeth once a day (extra well for teeth that touch);
- Eat a well balanced diet and limit juice and snacks, eliminate gum with sugar, soft drinks, and taffy-like candy;
- Visit your pediatric dentist regularly beginning with an initial exam by 12 months of age;
- Get fluoride via drinking water, fluoride products or supplements;