Why Your Child Should See the Dentist Every Six Months
Good oral hygiene is the foundation of your child’s oral health. That means they should brush their teeth at least twice a day, floss daily, and have a routine teeth cleaning appointment every six months with our Hudsonville children’s dentist.
But if your child is already brushing and flossing, why do they need their teeth professionally cleaned? Does taking a toddler to the dentist twice a year really matter? The answer is yes, because preventive dental care happens inside and outside of the home.
Here are a couple of reasons every six months.
Seeing Our Dentist Allows Your Child to:
1. Get a Stronger, More Thorough Teeth Cleaning
Brushing and flossing at home is critical for cavity prevention and keeping gum disease out of the picture. Plaque, the slick film you feel on your teeth in the morning, forms naturally every day, and brushing and flossing is the only way to get rid of it. If your child doesn’t brush and floss, then bacteria will consume the plaque and produce acids that will wear down their enamel over time.
Plaque that builds up eventually turns into tartar, a harder substance that can’t be removed with at-home oral hygiene habits. Even if your child is a devoted brusher and flosser, there may be parts of their teeth that are difficult to reach where plaque can turn into tartar.
During a professional teeth cleaning inside our Hudsonville, MI, family dental office, our hygienists and local children’s dentist have the tools, products, and techniques necessary to remove all the plaque and tartar from your child’s teeth. We’ll clean their teeth thoroughly to keep their smile healthy.
2. Prevent or Have Serious Oral Health Problems Caught Early
When we schedule a teeth cleaning with a patient, our hygienists won’t just clean their teeth and send them on their way. We’ll take this opportunity to also check on a patient’s entire smile with an oral examination.
Oral exams for kids are a great, non-invasive way to catch serious oral health problems before they get out of hand. For example, taking a child to see the dentist every six months means having a better chance of catching minor cavities before they get larger and can no longer be solved with a simple filling.
We’ll also be able to keep an eye on developing issues, such as watching your child’s adult teeth to see if they’re coming in correctly. Preventive dentistry will save you both time and money in the long run.
3. Start a Healthy Habit
Let’s be honest, not every adult goes to the dentist as often as they should. Factors of a busy life aside, the habit of receiving a dental checkup typically starts in childhood. If you learn the importance of getting teeth professionally cleaned early on, it’s more likely to stick with you as you grow older.
Instill in your child the idea that seeing the dentist is key not just for the health of their mouth, but their body as a whole. It is all connected, after all. For example, ignored tooth decay can progress into gum disease which has been shown to have some effect on the heart if not managed.
The more your child goes to the dentist, the more comfortable they’ll feel. That’s because you’ll have normalized the experience and shown them that it’s safe.
What Are the Benefits of Children’s Dental Care?
Tooth decay is the most common chronic disease affecting American children according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. For this reason, it’s important that your child be on a regular schedule and receive a dental checkup multiple times a year, if possible. Baby teeth are small, but their impact is big. They help children chew properly, speak clearly, and hold space for permanent teeth.
If a baby tooth is lost too early due to decay or injury, nearby teeth can shift into that space, causing crowding or misalignment later. Prompt treatment for baby teeth helps prevent pain, infection, and costly procedures. Engaging in early dental care for children can also provide opportunities for education and support on topics like toothbrushing techniques, nutrition, and habits that impact oral health.
Schedule Your Child’s Next Teeth Cleaning
Our children’s dentist in Hudsonville, MI, can help you protect your child’s smile and maintain their oral health. To schedule an appointment, call Hudsonville Dental Kids today at (616) 209-4039, or contact us online.
This blog has been updated.
