As an adult, you likely know that you should visit your dentist on a regular basis in order to maintain a healthy smile. But did you know that kids need this routine dental care too? A child should start going to their dentist as soon as they grow their first baby tooth.
Eventually, kids will lose their baby teeth to make room for permanent adult ones. But though those teeth fall out, their well-being plays a major role in the long-term oral health of the patient. They should attend dental check-ups at least twice a year, which will include targeted teeth cleanings.
A family dentist can let you know the details about the dental attention your child needs when you book a dental appointment. Read on to learn more about teeth cleaning appointments and their importance in your child’s overall oral healthcare.
What Will Occur During a Pediatric Dental Cleaning?
A family dentist will clean baby teeth in a young dental patient in the same way that they do for adult teeth. The cleaning process begins with asking the patient to rinse with a special mouthwash to get rid of easy build-up on the teeth.
Then the dentist will use a scaling tool to scrape away stubborn plaque and tartar that collects in tricky spots on the smile that a toothbrush might miss. This process does not hurt, and it feels more comfortable when the patient does not skip previous oral hygiene routines.
The dentist will then polish the teeth with a special brush and paste. The young patient can choose an appealing flavor of paste for this part of the cleaning. They finish the appointment by flossing between the teeth with traditional string floss.
Why Is Early Preventive Oral Healthcare Important?
Even patients with diligent at-home oral hygiene habits will need attention from a dental professional to keep their smiles healthy. And kids with baby teeth still should receive this dental care, even though these teeth will fall out as they grow up. The health of baby teeth can majorly affect the wellness of adult teeth.
Baby teeth can develop cavities if the child does not maintain good oral hygiene. Brushing and flossing the teeth alone cannot remove all plaque and other residues that can accrue on the teeth. Plaque development can encourage the spread of oral bacteria which can weaken the teeth over time, putting them in danger of cavities and more dental issues.
A dentist will need to treat a cavity in a baby tooth. The decay will worsen without this intervention. It can penetrate to affect the underlying adult teeth. Then they can grow into place with weak structure or a crooked alignment.
The way to prevent cavities and other dental issues is with good preventive oral healthcare, which includes proper oral hygiene. And good oral hygiene requires a professional teeth cleaning on a regular basis for patients of all ages. Schedule a dental cleaning for you and your family today.