We love being a family dentist office. We enjoy providing dental care for generations of the same family.

We like listening to your children tell us about their accomplishments in school, and we especially like it when they can show us that their teeth are cavity-free.

While routine dental cleanings and exams are an important part of your kids’ oral care, what they do at home is just as if not more important. Pediatric dentistry is something we are happy to do, but it really is a team effort between our dentist office in Aberdeen, SD, and your family at home.

Today, we want to discuss what you can expect from Aberdeen Smiles. We also want to share what you and your family can do at home to keep you and your children smiling.

Call us at 605-277-9049 or contact us online to request an appointment for your next or your first cleaning with us.

At The Dentist Office

We know from our experience with adult patients that dental anxiety often has its roots in bad experiences at the dentist when those patients were children.

That’s part of the reason we make every effort to make your kids’ trips to the dentist fun. We have a play area for your children while they wait for their appointment to begin, and our staff provides compassionate and friendly care for our littlest patients.

As part of your routine visits, we provide professional dental cleanings and exams. The exams may include X-rays because we want to find any problems, like cavities, as early as possible. By doing this, we can provide treatments that are less invasive and more effective.

Many families also take advantage of two important preventive treatments when they visit us.

You may have noticed that your children don’t always do what you would like them to. They may not brush their teeth as well as they should. They may eat more sweets than you would like. That’s why dental sealants and fluoride treatments can be so helpful.

Sealants are a thin plastic coating that is applied to the chewing surface of your children’s molars (the large, flat teeth in the back of the mouth). These teeth are the ones that are most likely to develop cavities.

Sealants create a barrier between the top of these teeth and the bacteria that cause tooth decay. That makes it harder for bacteria to get into spaces where they may be able to hide from a toothbrush.

Fluoride treatments are a way of giving your teeth a boost. When applied to healthy teeth, fluoride strengthens the enamel, the hard, outer layer. If your teeth have received some minor damage, fluoride can help repair it before tooth decay takes hold.

At Home

While you are at Aberdeen Smiles, we welcome you to ask questions. We can discuss nutrition, teething, and your daily oral hygiene routine.

You probably already know that the American Dental Association recommends brushing and flossing your teeth. But we would like to take a moment to give a little more explanation of what that means.

When it comes to brushing your teeth, remember two for two. Everyone should brush their teeth twice a day for two minutes each time.

When you brush, you should have a soft-bristled toothbrush and a fluoride toothpaste. For small children, parents may need to brush their teeth for them, but as your kids become more independent, here’s what they should do.

Squeeze a pea-sized amount of toothpaste on a toothbrush. Then scrub your teeth on all sides. Finish by brushing your tongue, and spitting the toothpaste into the sink. Rinse the sink and your toothbrush before putting it away.

You also should floss between your teeth once per day. Flossing is how you clean the spaces between your teeth and gums that a toothbrush can’t reach.

If you are using dental floss, break off about 18 inches. Wrap the ends around your fingers and grip the floss with your thumb and index finger. Work the floss between each tooth, making a C-shape to get under the gumline. Roll and unroll the floss as needed to use a clean piece. When you are finished, throw the floss away.

If using dental floss is too difficult, talk to us about other interdental cleaners such as flosser and water flossers.

We’re On Your Side

We want to keep you and your kids smiling for decades to come. We know having a healthy mouth helps.

So, call us today at 605-277-9049 or contact us online to schedule a visit to our dentist office if you live in or near Aberdeen, SD. We look forward to seeing you again or meeting you for the first time.