Early prevention has to do with making sure your children’s teeth are taken care of. Most children start losing their teeth around age five, and our dentist recommends you take your child in for checkups around ages eight and nine. When you buy toothpaste for children, dentists recommend using special formulas that don’t contain fluoride or that have flavors that children don’t like. Make sure to buy a new toothbrush at least every six months, and you should take the time to find one that is the correct size for your child’s mouth.
Teach Your Children How to Prevent Cavities
Teaching your children how to brush or floss their teeth is essential, and you should be a good role model by doing the same thing. You should also provide nutritious meals and snacks that contain the minerals or vitamins that are required for having healthy oral tissues. Avoid giving your children soft drinks or other sugary beverages that encourage the growth of bacteria inside the mouth. Milk, fruit juices or water are better beverage choices. You should begin bringing your child to our dentist’s office as soon as possible to find problems in the earliest stages. Our dentist will also discourage bad habits such as biting the fingernails or sucking a thumb so that your child’s teeth aren’t damaged. During your child’s dental visit, the dentist will perform a physical examination of the mouth along with collecting medical images. In some cases, a dentist will notice an abnormality of the mouth that requires early prevention with treatments or dental appliances.
Schedule Early Prevention Appointments
When a child has a cavity in a primary tooth, it will require a filling to prevent additional decay. The dentist must clean the tooth to remove bacteria, and this can keep more cavities from forming in your child’s mouth. A dental hygienist will use small tools to remove any plaque buildup that could lead to gingivitis, but if your child has a problem with a lot of tooth decay, then treatment with fluoride or coating the teeth with a protective sealant is necessary. Children who receive early prevention treatments are more likely to have healthy permanent teeth and are less likely to develop gum disease. Our dentist will also notice problems with malocclusions so that your child can begin wearing braces as soon as possible. To learn more about preventative dental treatments along with the best ways to care for your teeth, visit Central Texas Orthodontics in Austin, TX. Contact us today to schedule your consultation!
