When your child comes in for their semi-annual dental exam, we also offer preventative dental cleanings. These cleanings are important because they remove excess plaque, tartar, and bacteria from your child’s teeth in order to reduce the risk of tooth decay and gum disease. The American Dental Association (ADA) notes that the risk of these two dental conditions are significantly decreased when cleanings are performed at six month intervals. In addition to cleaning your child’s teeth, we will also provide a preventative fluoride treatment as well.
Did You Know?
Dental plaque is a soft film that sits on the surface of your child’s teeth. While plaque can easily be removed with regular brushing and flossing, undisturbed plaque can harden into tartar. Unfortunately, tartar cannot be removed by brushing and flossing, and can only be removed with dental tools.
Frequently Asked Questions:
Why does my child need their teeth cleaned?
Everyone benefits from professional teeth cleanings, especially children. For starters, tooth decay is extremely common in children. Additionally, children often miss places when they brush and floss, which can cause bacteria to accumulate and cause tooth decay or gum disease. Having their teeth professionally cleaned not only removes plaque and tartar from the surface of their teeth, but it also manages bacterial populations.
What can my child expect when having their teeth cleaned at Carr Pediatric Dentistry?
At Carr Pediatric Dentistry, we do everything that we can to ensure your child has a positive dental experience. That is why we take our time to make sure your child is comfortable while they have their teeth cleaned. We also offer dental sedation if needed.
When having their teeth cleaned, your child can expect to have a dental hygienist use a dental scaler to gently scrape plaque and tartar off the surface of their teeth. In some cases, a water scaler may also be used. This process will be repeated on the inside and outside of every tooth. Then, your child’s teeth will be brushed with a gritty toothpaste, flossed, and rinsed. This ensures that all the debris is removed from their mouth. The final step of a teeth cleaning is to apply a fluoride polish to the surface of the teeth in order to strengthen the enamel and prevent future plaque accumulation.
Do I need to have my child follow any special instructions in between appointments?
In between dental appointments, it is important to keep your child practicing good oral hygiene habits. This means brushing twice a day with fluoride toothpaste and flossing once a day. Depending on your child’s individual needs, their pediatric dentist may provide additional directions to follow in between appointments to keep their teeth clean.
