February is National Children’s Dental Health Month. What better time than now to discuss the importance of helping your children have healthy and happy smiles? Together with Dallas, GA children’s dentists Drs. Bickford and Shirley, you can help your children have healthier smiles every month of the year.
Infant Smile Care
Believe it or not, you should begin taking care of your son or daughter’s smile even before they have teeth. After each feeding, use a soft cloth dampened with lukewarm water to wipe their gum tissue. This will remove the sugars that are present in formula or breast milk and get them accustomed to having their mouth cleaned regularly. Then when that first baby tooth appears, you can use a small, soft toothbrush and gently brush with water. There’s no need to use toothpaste until they are old enough to spit, which typically happens between the ages of two and three.
First Dentist Visit
Children as young as three years old are welcome at Distinctive Dentistry. At these early visits, we’ll count and examine their teeth, clean their teeth and evaluate their gums. We’ll also check the development of your child’s smile in order to prevent any problems from impacting their dental and oral health. Annual digital x-rays are recommended to find any hidden spots of decay.
Fluoride and Your Child’s Smile
Fluoride is a mineral that is naturally found in the earth’s crust and in lakes, rivers and streams. How does this mineral help your children (and you) avoid cavities? As your child grows, the fluoride they ingest tends to concentrate in their teeth and bones. A sufficient amount of fluoride makes the enamel on their baby teeth harder and even strengthens their adult teeth that have not yet erupted. In addition, fluoride can help to remineralize a tooth during the beginning stage of decay, so your child can avoid having a cavity.
Fluoride Treatments
When you bring your children to Distinctive Dentistry for a checkup, we’ll clean and polish their teeth, check for signs of decay and gum disease, and take digital x-rays once each year. In addition, Dr. Bickford or Dr. Shirley may recommend fluoride treatments. This service is performed at the end of the checkup and only takes a couple of minutes. Mouth trays are filled with fluoride gel and placed over your child’s teeth. The concentrated fluoride penetrates the enamel, helping to strengthen your child’s teeth in the fight against cavity causing bacteria.
Fluoride at Home
Make sure your children brush their teeth with fluoride toothpaste. With adequate fluoride, your children will have stronger teeth and a healthier smile.
Contact Dallas, GA Children’s Dentist Today
Take advantage of Children’s Dental Health Month and schedule a checkup for your kids at Distinctive Dentistry.
