Many adults and children alike have a fear of going to the dentist that can prevent them from going in for regular cleanings. Your dental insurance plan should allow your children to receive two cleanings per year, and it’s essential for you to make these appointments. You’ll build healthy habits in your child that will last a lifetime.
Building Healthy Oral Habits
The dentist or hygienist will help teach your child the proper way to care for his teeth. She’ll give him a new toothbrush and tooth paste, along with some floss. She’ll ask him to show how he does it and give some tips to make it better. As kids get older, they don’t always allow the parents to brush their teeth for them, so it’s nice to have an outside person stressing the importance.
Finding Problems Early
A visit to the dentist should include yearly x-rays and a checkup in addition to the cleaning. This can alert you to problems with the teeth, such as cavities. Catching and fixing these problems early can prevent them from turning into bigger problems.
Getting a Thorough Cleaning
No matter how good your child is about brushing his teeth, there are likely to be areas that he’s missing. The thorough cleaning that he’ll get at the dentist will scrape away plaque in hard-to-reach areas. This is an essential step in preventing cavities and gum disease.
Sealing the Teeth
Once the adult teeth come in, the dentist often offers the option of “sealing” the teeth. In this process, the dentist will place a hard enamel over the adult tooth that protects the tooth from getting cavities. The enamel doesn’t last forever and will have to be periodically replaced, but this process can be a big help to any child who has “bumpy” teeth, or teeth that have nooks where food particles can hide.
Routine Dental Visits
It is important to establish a routine with your kids. According to Smith Family Dental, part of this routine should include taking your child to the dentist for his or her twice-yearly checkup. This should help to remove some of the fear that’s associated with the dentist. When he grows up, he’ll hopefully be able to continue going to the dentist for regular cleanings and checkups, and this will keep his teeth in good shape.
Going to the dentist isn’t always a fun thing to do, but it’s a good habit to have for dental health. Starting your child from an early age can make the process a lot easier.
