Schedule a Back-to-School Dental Cleaning Today

Schedule your back-to-school dental cleaning to start your children off right this year. New clothes and school supplies are important, yes, but don’t forget about oral health! Learn dental health tips to add to your back-to-school checklist.

Teeth Cleanings Boost Confidence

Smiles boost your child’s confidence, social lives, interactions and (future) careers. A healthy smile can transform our physical appearance in startling ways. But, not only does a healthy smile feed a healthy mind-set, but it also affects your overall health as well. Research shows that oral health can impact our risk for heart disease, dementia, stroke, diabetes, Alzheimer’s, and cancer. 

Preventive Dental Care Safeguards Oral Health

After a child gets his first tooth, preventive dental care needs to be established.  Preventive dentistry looks out for dental problems early on in your child’s life before they  have a chance to get worse.  According to the American Dental Association (ADA) your child should visit Li’l Sunshine Smiles for a professional cleaning and examination every six months. 

Scheduled times are set at specific intervals because tooth decay develops in a predictable pattern. Once plaque transforms into tartar, it can only be removed by dental professionals. Depending on the condition of your child’s teeth and gums, he may need to see Dr. Cat more than twice a year.  Schedule a visit with Dr. Cat to see what she recommends for your child’s teeth.  Common preventive dentistry actions for children include:

• Receiving dental sealants.
• Teaching proper dental habits. Such as: regular brushing and flossing; avoiding thumb sucking; and healthy-teeth eating habits.
• Engaging in teeth cleanings and oral exams every 6 months.
• Scheduling a fluoride application .
• Having x-rays to identify and track jaw/teeth development.
• Getting an athletic mouthguard for sports. 

Preventive dentistry for children is successful when both the dentist and the parents are working with the child to establish healthy dental habits and education.  Furthermore, taking the time to incorporate the above components of preventive dentistry help to establish a healthy foundation for keeping smiles bright and confidence high. 

Digital X-rays Spot Underlying Issues

Don’t forget the need for regular dental x-rays. Another critical reason to have your child see Dr. Cat  every six months is to get the teeth and jaw bone x-rayed. Damage to the jawbone can be detected along with any bone decay, swelling, cysts, or tumors, all of which cannot be seen with the naked eye. Finding these or any other major oral issues as soon as possible is critical in order to properly treat them. Especially with destructive diseases that show little to no symptoms but progress quickly, up-to-date x-rays and twice-a-year checkups are the best way to keep on top of your oral health.

Get Ahead of Oral Issues to Keep Your Child on Track

Make oral health a priority in your household. A commitment to high oral care standards will go a long way.  

Remember the basics: 1) Brush daily with a fluoride toothpaste, twice a day; 2) floss at least once a day; 3) reach for water and skip the soda; 4) incorporate mouthwash to help rid your mouth of bacteria; and 5) call and schedule regular dental cleanings and exams with Dr. Cat. 

Plan for Healthy Eating and Snacking This Year

Keeping your child’s mouth healthy requires some proactive steps regarding what they eat. Here are some tips: 

• Be intentional when it comes to avoiding added sugars. The World Health Organization states that children should have no more than 3 tsp.
• Avoid foods that stick to your teeth. Dried fruits seem like a healthy choice, but even they can be problematic. Fruit snacks, chewy candies, anything that sticks to the tooth enamel can accelerate tooth decay. 
• When choosing a beverage, choose water over juice or soda.
• Reach for dairy as a low-sugar alternative. Milk, and other dairy products like cheese and yogurt, are low in sugar which helps preserve teeth enamel.  And, dairy products have protein and calcium which help make teeth strong.
• Be careful with carbs. Tooth decay is caused by acid-producing bacteria that are activated by carbs. Reach for nuts, strawberries, celery, eggs and lean meats. 

Call to Schedule a Back-to-School Dental Cleaning Today

Oral health is a group effort.  A visit to your Li’l Sunshine Smiles dental home can help you learn more about treatments to keep smiles bright and white.  Call to schedule an appointment at 813-576-0200!