Halloween is just days away, but it’s only the start of a season of food-filled holidays.
With Thanksgiving, we enjoy turkey, mashed potatoes, and pumpkin pie. Around Christmas, we get plenty of cookies and cakes to go along with the presents we give to one another.
This can be a fun time of year, although it can be tough on your family’s teeth if you aren’t careful.
Everyone at our Aberdeen, SD dentist office wants you and your kids to enjoy the holiday season, but we also want to take a moment to remind you of the things you can and should do to keep your smiles intact when the next big holiday arrives.
If you haven’t scheduled your family’s next dental cleaning and exam, contact Aberdeen Smiles today to make an appointment. Call us at 605-277-9049 or fill out our online form.
Taking Care Of Your Kids’ Teeth At Home
We hope you and your kids will visit us a couple times per year for dental cleanings and exams.
But we also hope you are carefully following the American Dental Association’s recommendations for daily care. Let’s take a moment to review.
Children 3 and older need a pea-sized squeeze of toothpaste with fluoride. They need to brush their teeth twice a day for two minutes each time. It’s important that they clean their teeth on all sides.
When they are finished, your kids should brush their tongues, spit the toothpaste into the sink, and rinse their toothbrushes clean.
Flossing is equally important for preventing tooth decay, cavities, and some gum infections. The ADA recommends flossing at least once per day.
We also know that some kids (and adults) find it difficult to use dental floss. For this reason, you may want to consider some other ways to “floss.” This can include flossers or water flossers.
Flossers have short handles with a short thread of floss on one end. Many people find these to be a more comfortable way to clean between their teeth and gums. Water flossers use a stream of water to remove food particles and plaque buildup from between teeth and below the gumline.
Since these are the same guidelines for adults, you may want to brush and floss at the same time as your children until you are comfortable that they understand what they should do.
Taking Care Of Your Kids’ Teeth At The Dentist
You want your family to be as healthy as possible. It’s why you try your best to provide healthy meals and to encourage the habits mentioned above.
But you are only human. There are times when your kids don’t brush or floss as well as they should. This is part of the reason professional dental cleanings and exams are essential for maintaining your kids’ oral health.
And if you come to Aberdeen Smiles, you can feel confident in the care your family will receive. Pediatric dentistry has been an integral part of our practice from the beginning.
This starts with your son or daughter’s first visit to our office. We welcome children to visit us for the first time when their first teeth are coming in (around the time they are six months old).
This appointment is important for your children because it helps them become familiar with being in a dentist office and being around our team members. It’s also important for you as a parent because it gives you an opportunity to ask questions and for you to learn our approach to children’s dental care.
With regular dental care, we can help prevent tooth decay and gum disease or to catch those issues in the earliest stages, when they are easier to treat.
During your children’s visits, we will:
▹ Clean their teeth to remove plaque and tartar
▹ Polish their teeth so their smiles can look their best
▹ Take X-rays (as needed) to monitor changes in their teeth
In addition to regular cleanings, we also offer two services that can reduce your children’s risk of cavities.
Dental sealants can be applied to your children teeth by our team. Sealants act as a barrier between teeth and the bacteria that cause tooth decay.
Fluoride treatments can strengthen the enamel, which makes teeth more resistant to decay. Fluoride also can repair minor damage before it can lead to bigger problems.
Bring Your Family To See Us Soon
We look forward to meeting new families, but we also believe we provide better dental care by building relationships with our patients. To learn more about us, call 605-277-9049 or contact us online today to schedule an appointment with us soon.