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Preventive Care

for your kids
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Cleanings

The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry (AAPD) recommends a child’s teeth be cleaned and evaluated every 6 months. In some cases, we will encourage more frequent visits, such as every 3 months. These more frequent visits can help build rapport with the child and monitor a child’s oral hygiene and development more closely.

Our team of assistants and hygienists will work together to polish, floss, and clean any build up off of your child’s teeth. Our doctors and staff are trained to make these visits fun and welcoming for your child using kid-friendly terms and allowing them to pick fun flavors and toothbrushes!

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Fluoride Treatments

Our doctors align with the AAPD on a child’s oral health need for fluoride. Fluoride is proven to strengthen dental enamel and prevent cavities when administered at appropriate levels. Our doctors will determine what is appropriate for your child.

We encourage fluoridated toothpaste use at home as well as professional fluoride treatments at their dental visits. We will prescribe take home fluoride supplements if your child presents as a high risk for developing cavities.

Fluoride helps make teeth strong and prevents tooth decay. If the water where you live does not have enough fluoride, your doctor may prescribe fluoride supplements (fluoride drops or pills). You would give these drops or pills every day, starting when your child is about six months old. Only give as much as the directions say to use because too much fluoride can cause spots on your child’s teeth. Also, be sure to call your local water authority and ask if your water is fluoridated. If it is, tell your dentist or pediatrician so that your child is not being over fluoridated. Children should take these drops or pills until they are 12 to 16 years old (or until you move to an area with fluoride in the water).

If you do not reside in a community that has fluoridated water or have the appropriate amount of natural fluoride in your well water, your child will need some sort of supplement in their diet. We can help you determine how much of a supplement your child needs based upon their weight, age, current water fluoride level, and brand of toothpaste.

Radiographs

The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry recommends radiographs be taken every 12 months unless the child is at higher risk for decay then every 6 months. Our doctors use digital radiographs to monitor your child’s development and diagnose dental decay, diseases, and abnormalities that are unable to be seen by simply looking in the mouth.

Some types of radiographs our office uses include bitewings, periapical, and panoramic films. Each type of image allows the dentist to check for different diseases and dental issues. The amount of radiation exposure our patients receive when having radiographs taken is a minor portion of the radiation they are exposed to daily through man-made and natural sources.

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Sealants

Even if your child brushes and flosses carefully, it is difficult to clean the tiny grooves and pits in certain teeth. Food and bacteria build up in these crevices, placing your child in danger of tooth decay.

Sealants “seal out” food and plaque, thus reducing the risk of decay. Sealants protect the grooved and pitted surfaces of the teeth, especially the chewing surfaces of back teeth where most cavities in children are found. Made of clear or shaded plastic, sealants are applied to the teeth to help keep them cavity free.

View Our FAQ About Sealants
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Brushing & Flossing

Preventative care for your child’s smile begins even before the first tooth appears. With regular check-ups and cleanings by your pediatric dentist and daily care at home, your child can have the best chance for a healthy smile.

How can you help your child on a lifetime of healthy smiles? Healthy habits begin at birth by cleaning your child’s gums with a soft cloth and water. After the first tooth erupts, try a soft infant toothbrush to clean the teeth and gums. Avoid bottle feeding after around 12-14 months – and never put your child to bed with a bottle.

Children’s hands and mouths are different than adults. They need to use toothbrushes designed especially for children. Both adults and children should use brushes with soft, rounded bristles for gentle cleaning. Change to a new brush about every three months or after sickness.

Dentists and hygienists often advise children to use a gentle, short, back and forth motion to remove plaque. When children are older, they can switch to this method: Hold the brush at a 45 degrees angle towards teeth and gums. Move brush back and forth in circular motions.

  • Brush the inside and outside surfaces of each tooth, top and bottom.
  • Hold the brush flat on top of the teeth and brush the chewing surfaces.
  • Gently brush the tongue to remove debris.
  • Floss between teeth daily.

Brushing & Flossing while in Orthodontic Treatment

While wearing braces, teeth are more difficult to clean. Gum tissue inflammation, tooth decay, and decalcification (white spots on the teeth) can occur if oral hygiene is inadequate. Using a soft bristle brush is small circular motions above and below the brackets.

Flossing once daily will also help avoid cavities from developing between the teeth. Floss threaders are available to make it easier. The water-pik and air flosser are great supplements to flossing with braces but do not replace flossing.

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When To Begin Brushing

Once your child’s teeth begin erupting, you can begin cleaning them by wiping them with a moist washcloth. As your child gets more teeth, you can begin to use a soft child’s toothbrush.

You should use just a pea-sized amount of fluoride free toothpaste (such as Baby OraGel Training Toothpaste) until your child is able to spit it out as too much fluoride can stain their teeth. By age two or three begin teaching your child to brush. You will still need to brush after they do to ensure you’ve brushed where they’ve missed.

For most toddlers, getting them to brush their teeth can be quite a challenge. Below are some tips to make preventative care at home, such as teeth-brushing, something that kids get excited about.

MAKE IT FUN. Our patients enjoy seeing us because we are excited to see them and teach them about how they can become more empowered in their own care. We know your child may only see us a couple times of year, while you oversee the hygiene the rest of the year. It’s no fun to wage a daily tug-of-war with your child over brushing that can leave both of your wanting to avoid it. If you find something that makes these few minutes fun, you may find your child asking to brush!

SHOW & TELL. We use puppets to “show and tell” our patients how to take care of their teeth. Encourage your kids to do a puppet show for you to demonstrate their knowledge, and give them positive feedback.

FOLLOW THE LEADER. If there are older siblings in the household who have developed good habits, try having them brush together. Younger children like to model behavior of older kids. More importantly, they learn from your example. Brushing together gives your child the chance to follow your lead – and gives you both a few minutes of true quality time.

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It is also be a good idea to create a “tooth brushing routine.” And stick to the same routine each day.

Preventive dentistry for children helps promote a cavity-free smile by evaluating oral growth and development, providing oral health education, offering teeth cleanings, sealant and fluoride treatments and much more!

Your pediatric dentist is a partner in the continuum of care by helping develop the daily “at-home” healthy habits best suited for your child including brushing, flossing, and fluoride recommendations. The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry recommends that children see their pediatric dentist at least every six months for the best defense against tooth decay and other dental problems.

Working in tandem with your pediatric dentist to provide consistent oral care sets the foundation for a lifetime of healthy smiles.

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