Extra Gentle Care for Kids' Gums and Teeth
Just like adults, children need regular dental visits to maintain their oral health. Routine teeth cleanings and examinations play a crucial role in preserving their smiles and supporting healthy development. Professional cleanings remove plaque, tartar, and bacteria that can lead to cavities, gum disease, chronic bad breath, and even impact the alignment of incoming adult teeth. Our kid-friendly hygienists can reach those tricky areas that are hard for kids to clean with daily brushing and flossing at home.
After a thorough cleaning, our dental team takes the opportunity to carefully assess your child’s overall oral health, check for problem areas, and monitor the transition of baby teeth to permanent teeth. We’ll keep you informed about what to watch for and provide personalized tips to maintain your child’s oral health at home.
- Keep baby teeth and emerging adult teeth strong and healthy.
- Prevent gum disease and support overall oral health.
- Track your child’s growth and dental milestones through various stages.
- Build a positive, comfortable relationship with the dentist.
- Encourage kids to take responsibility for their own oral hygiene.
- Establish lifelong healthy dental habits.
Benefits of Routine Pediatric Teeth Cleanings and Exams:
What to Expect During Children’s Teeth Cleaning
Before your child’s check-up, we review their dental history to identify any problem areas or patterns. Depending on their needs, we may take X-rays or discuss fluoride treatments or sealants for new adult teeth. Our team uses a kid-friendly approach to help your child feel at ease, encouraging them to share any questions or concerns they may have about their teeth or mouth.
Gum Health
Gums play a vital role in supporting teeth and shaping your child’s smile. Healthy gums are especially important as permanent teeth begin to emerge. Just like adults, children are at risk for gum disease. Our team carefully examines the soft tissues in their mouth and provides age-appropriate advice for flossing and maintaining healthy gums at home.
Plaque and Tartar Removal
Plaque is a sticky film that starts to build up on teeth as soon as they come in. If not removed regularly, it hardens into tartar, which can lead to cavities and gum disease. Tartar is especially tricky to remove from between teeth and along the gumline. Our hygienists use specialized tools to gently remove plaque and tartar from those hard-to-reach areas. Once the cleaning is complete, we may recommend a fluoride treatment to strengthen your child’s tooth enamel.
Tracking Dental Milestones
Your child’s first set of teeth usually comes in between 6 months and 6 years of age, followed by the gradual replacement of baby teeth with permanent teeth well into their teens (and sometimes later with wisdom teeth). Every child develops at their own pace. During the check-up, the dentist will review their chart, assess any new X-rays, and monitor for milestones, patterns, or potential concerns. We’ll keep you informed about your child’s dental progress and address any questions or issues along the way.
Contact us today
to schedule an initial consultation & exam.
Your consultation will include an examination of everything from your teeth, gums and soft tissues to the shape and condition of your bite. Generally, we want to see how your whole mouth looks and functions. Before we plan your treatment we want to know everything about the health and aesthetic of your smile, and, most importantly, what you want to achieve so we can help you get there.
Frequently Asked Questions
We generally recommend children visit the dentist every six months for a cleaning and check-up, just like adults. In some cases, the dentist may advise more frequent visits, such as every three months, depending on your child’s specific needs. However, waiting longer than a year between appointments is not recommended.
Don’t wait. If you’re concerned about your child’s teeth or oral health, it’s best to schedule an appointment as soon as possible. Early intervention allows us to address any issues before they become more serious.
Young children may not always express discomfort clearly. Watch for these signs of potential dental pain or sensitivity:
- Frequent touching or holding their face and jaw.
- Reluctance to let others near their mouth or face.
- Swelling, redness, or discolouration of the gums, cheeks, or teeth.
- Fever: Sometimes linked to dental infections.
- Avoidance of hot or cold foods and drinks.
- Difficulty or refusal to eat chewy or hard foods.
- Favouring one side of the mouth while chewing.
- Irritability, moodiness, or general discomfort.
A typical children’s dental cleaning lasts between 30 minutes to an hour. Appointments may take longer for children who are anxious or have many questions, as we take the time to ensure they feel comfortable and at ease.
- Begin cleaning your child’s teeth: Start as soon as they emerge, using child-friendly, age-appropriate toothpaste and toothbrushes.
- Encourage good habits: Teach them to brush twice a day and floss daily.
- Fluoride treatments: Highly beneficial for children’s dental health. Request fluoride treatments at the dentist and use fluoride-enriched toothpaste and drinking water at home.
- Limit sugary and acidic foods and drinks: Avoid juice, pop, and sweet snacks before bedtime to prevent tooth decay.
- Lead by example: Brush and floss your teeth daily to set a positive example.
Your child should wait at least 30 minutes after a fluoride treatment before eating or drinking. This waiting period allows the fluoride to fully absorb and strengthen their enamel before being washed away.
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