Between the ages of four and 17, it’s about establishing excellent brushing and flossing habits – only this time with the kids in charge. Encouraging a healthy diet also goes a long way toward lifelong strong, healthy teeth. And of course, professional teeth cleaning and regular checkups are key.
Brushing teeth twice daily is recommended. Most kids need help and supervision until ages seven to eight, when their dexterity is developed. A good rule of thumb is that if they can tie their own shoelaces, they have enough dexterity to brush their own teeth.
Children ages four and older may use a pea-sized amount of fluoride toothpaste. Fluoride is important to help prevent tooth decay in children of all ages.
It is important that children floss their teeth every night. Younger kids will most likely need help with flossing. We recommend that kids floss first and then brush to promote the best possible oral health.
Be aware of “health” snacks that are sticky and high in simple carbohydrates. Also, “healthy” food such as yogurt drinks, gummy vitamins, granola bars, fruit pouches and dried fruits cause cavities.
Even if a drink is sugar-free, it often has other ingredients that make it acidic and cause erosion of enamel and caries. We recommend encouraging children to drink milk or water.
It’s important as kids get older to continue visits to the dentist every six months. Cavities in children develop quickly since teeth are smaller and weaker. At our dental clinic, children receive the best pediatric dental services. If your child is in active orthodontic treatment, we may see them more often for regular cleaning.
Prevention services are key to pediatric dental health, so our dental checkups always start with teeth cleaning. We check for plaque and calculus buildup. If we find teeth with deep grooves and pits causing food impaction, we may recommend fissure sealants to protect the teeth. We educate kids and parents on how to brush effectively to promote gum health.
At every checkup, we will be monitoring the timeline and sequence of adult teeth eruption. If there are any abnormalities with your child’s teeth, such as an extra or missing tooth, it’s best to address it as soon as possible for optimal dental health.
We screen for bite and occlusion at every visit. If there are significant issues, such as cross bite or jaw size, we will inform you that early orthodontic intervention is necessary to prevent future complications.
If your child is in contact sports or has braces, it’s important for them to wear a sports mouthguard to protect their teeth.
My son, who is now five, is not afraid of the dentist, largely because of the PPD team’s ability to put him at ease before and during his checkups. Highly recommend.
D.M.
