Healthy Smiles, Happy Kids: A Parent’s Guide To Dental Cleanings

Children’s dental health is so important that the entire month of February is dedicated to it. Across the world, it’s estimated that 3.5 billion people are affected by oral diseases. The good news is that your child doesn’t have to be one of them. Building healthy habits at home, and teaming up with a dental specialist for regular dental cleaning will keep their mouths healthy. In this article, we answer some of the commonly asked questions about what professional cleaning is, and why it’s so important.

What Is Dental Cleaning?

While home brushing and flossing are vital for oral health, it’s not possible to get into all the gaps and hollows between teeth. A regular toothbrush and toothpaste may not always remove all the plaque, leading to a build-up that hardens over time and can only be removed by a professional. During a cleaning appointment, dentists use special tools to work in hard-to-reach places and get teeth as clean as they can be.

What Is The Best Age For Your Child’s First Teeth Cleaning Appointment?

Good dental practices start the moment your baby cuts their first tooth. Aim to take them to the dentist about six months after that first appearance, or close to their first birthday. They’ll only need a quick check-up and should visit the dentist every six months thereafter.

While they aren’t likely to need their teeth cleaned yet, early visits get them used to being at the dentist and lay a happy foundation for healthy teeth throughout their lives. During those regular check-ups, your dentist will advise you when your child needs their first official cleaning appointment.

What Can Your Child Expect During A Dental Hygiene Visit?

Knowing what to expect during a dental hygiene visit can help settle a first-timer’s nerves. That goes for both the child and the parents! These are some of the typical steps a routine teeth cleaning appointment covers:

Welcome And Checking

The dentist will take time to set an anxious child at ease by introducing themselves. They might show them how the chair adjusts, explain what they’ll be doing using pictures, or give them a demonstration on a model mouth.

They’ll use a small mirror to examine the teeth, gums, and soft tissues inside the mouth to make sure the teeth are growing as they should. To check for cavities, they’ll poke each tooth with a curved instrument. At the same time, they’ll check the gaps between teeth and gums to look for signs of gum disease.

They might take X-rays to look for any early signs of dental issues that aren’t visible to the naked eye, such as abnormalities or hidden cavities.

Cleaning And Polishing

If there is a build-up of plaque and tartar around the gum line, the dentist uses a scaler to scratch it off. This part of cleaning is called scaling. After the plaque removal, the dentist uses an electric toothbrush and flavored paste to polish the teeth.

Flossing And Rinsing

The dentist flosses around each tooth to make sure no traces of food or plaque remain. There will be a cup of mouthwash and a small basin for your child to rinse their mouth out with. This helps to remove anything that came off their teeth during the process and leave their mouth feeling clean.

Treating With Fluoride

They coat the clean teeth with flavored fluoride to seal them and protect against food, plaque build-up, and cavities. Once that’s all done, the dentist may encourage them to keep up the good work at home or give some tooth care tips.

Surprising Benefits Of Teeth Cleaning

Apart from squeaky clean teeth, there are some unexpected pay-offs for having your child’s teeth cleaned, including:

Fight Cavities Before They Start

Tooth cleaning alerts the dentist to any weaknesses in a child’s teeth. Early intervention can prevent the weakness from deteriorating into full-blown cavities that need to be filled.

Pick Up On Dental Issues Early

Working so closely with your child’s teeth allows the dental team an opportunity to check for other dental issues such as bite problems or misalignment. Early detection and treatment often allow for less invasive solutions.

Create A Happy Dental Experience

Regular cleaning visits contribute to a positive experience for the child as they become comfortable in familiar surroundings. As regular visits prevent tooth problems from developing, your child is less likely to have problem teeth. Dentist visits for children with healthy teeth are generally quicker and full of compliments for the child.

Promote General Health And Well-being

Good dental health isn’t just about avoiding toothache. Untreated cavities cause pain and infection that spread to other parts of the body. Living in constant pain can lead to developmental issues in children. It affects their ability to eat normally, speak, play, and learn. Untreated cavities can lead to the loss of teeth and gum disease.

Establish Good Dental Care Habits

The dental care habits that a child forms in their early years are generally taken with them into adulthood. Caring for their teeth daily and scheduling regular check-ups and oral hygiene appointments is a habit they’ll take with them into adulthood.

How Can You Prepare Your Child For Their First Oral Hygiene Visit?

Being positive and calm about their upcoming visit is the best way to show your child that there’s nothing to worry about. Aside from that, you might want to:

• Role-play their dental visit. Set up a pretend dental office and let their toys be the patients. Act out what the dentist does, then switch roles and give your child a turn.
• Read going to the dentist books with your child. The stories help them know what to expect and relate to what will happen.
• Pick your child’s best time of day for the appointment. Scheduling their dental cleaning at their happiest time of day gives them the best chance at having a positive experience.
• Bring a comfort object. Let your child bring their favorite toy or blanket with them to the appointment.

Discover A Child-Friendly Smile Zone For Dental Cleaning In Boynton Beach

Our caring dental specialists at Eriks Dental Group are all about happy smiles! Our family dentistry practice is child-friendly, and our goal is to keep your child’s teeth in a smile-worthy condition. Contact us at 561-733-4004 to book a teeth cleaning appointment. We give young smiles the best chance at staying sparkly.