Preventive Dentistry in Children

Regular Cleaning:

Regular cleaning is one of the most important steps in preventive dentistry for your children. It helps monitor your child’s oral health, diagnose early dental issues and treat them well. A well-experienced dentist suggests that kids should visit preventive care clinics twice a year. It helps to remove plaque and tartar buildup that is not cleaned by brushing. It will also help prevent tooth decay, gum inflammation and cavities. 

Fluoride Treatments:

Due to unhealthy diet habits, tooth decay or cavities happen in your children. To avoid such issues, fluoride treatment is the best cure that lowers the prevalence of cavities and dental decay. When acid attacks the enamel, it leads to loss of minerals such as fluoride and calcium. Cavities and tooth decay occur from excessive demineralisation and insufficient remineralisation. To treat such issues, a child needs fluoride treatment. Sometimes fluoride is added to the drinking water and to the toothpaste. Fluoride acts as a protective layer for the outer enamel layer of the teeth. It is the most effective treatment for early dental decay in children. 

Dental Sealants: 

A thin layer of plastic coating is applied to the chewing surfaces of back teeth called dental sealants to prevent cavities. To prevent cavities in the molar, a child needs dental sealants. These sealants protect the teeth from harmful bacteria and help your child chew and grind food properly. It will significantly help to reduce the risk of cavities. It is suggested by our experienced dentists that children should get these sealants to their molars and premolars when teeth come in. This will protect the teeth throughout the cavity-prone years. It is a much easier and painless process to apply sealants on the teeth. This will happen in few minutes by a trained and experienced dentist. 

Oral Hygiene Education and Habits:

Proper hygiene education and practices are necessary to avoid dental issues in your children. These habits are given below: 

Brushing:

Children should learn to brush their teeth twice a day with fluoride toothpaste, as it is a healthy practice. A dentist recommends a soft toothbrush. 

Flossing:

Floss is used to remove food particles, plaque, and bacteria from the areas of teeth where a brush can’t reach. Plaque can cause inflammation in the gums and irritation in children and can be removed with floss. It will help to reduce tooth decay. However, flossing and brushing will help improve your child’s oral health and lower the risk of tooth issues. 

Parents Guidance:

Parents should supervise and assist their children with brushing and flossing techniques for effectiveness. 

Other Preventive Measures:

Some other preventive measures can help with pediatric dentistry. 

Space Maintainers:

Custom dental appliances should be used to maintain the space while a child loses teeth. This will also prevent other teeth from shifting and causing alignment problems. 

Food Counselling:

Counselling food is necessary to prevent tooth decay and other dental problems with children. For example, inhibiting sugary drinks and snacks can avoid such issues. 

Mouthguards:

Children with habits like teeth grinding or participating in sports should wear mouth guards to prevent tooth injuries. 

Orthodontic Screenings:

It will help to identify and address misaligned teeth or biting problems, preventing many dental problems in the future. 

Benefits of Preventive Dentistry in Children

It lowers the risk of dental problems in children. In pediatric dentistry, A dentist will identify the problem at an early stage and can stop the progression of any tooth infection. Regular teeth cleaning can prevent gum disease and inflammation in children; through preventive dentistry, your dentist will remove plaque and tartar buildup that can cause severe tooth problems. Regular dental check-up helps the dentist identify tooth problems in their early stage, and you can save money by avoiding expensive treatments. It will also help your child develop healthy oral hygiene practices. 

Conclusion

Preventive dentistry doesn’t mean regular check-ups but is a proactive approach to maintaining your child’s oral hygiene health. It should be started as soon as the first teeth of your child erupted. There are many chances to prevent dental issues in children by starting pediatric dentistry in early childhood. Cleaning of teeth, routine check-ups and preventing early dental problems will lower the risk of acute dental issues. Parents can play an important role in the preventive dentistry of their children by developing oral health hygiene and healthy eating habits. In case of any severe dental issue, you can visit Butternut Family Dentistry. We provide the most experienced dentist to treat your child’s teeth.

FAQs

Q: What is preventive dentistry in children?

Ans: In this, a dentist diagnoses and treats many tooth diseases, such as dental decay, cavities and other dental diseases, in children.

Q: In which way I can ensure my child is brushing properly?

Ans: You should brush your child’s teeth twice a day daily. You should also teach your child a proper brushing technique.

Q: Why are my child’s baby teeth important?

Ans: A child’s baby teeth are important as they help him eat properly and grow. However, unhealthy teeth cause pain and discomfort.