As parents, we want to give our children the right tools to get a great start when it comes to their oral health. While teaching them how to care for their teeth and the importance of brushing at least two times a day, you also need to educate them on the benefits of preventive dentistry.

Depending on your little ones oral health, your dentist may recommend sealants as a protective method. This is a thin coating that acts as a shield and prevents the accumulation of food debris and bacteria growth.

Sealants are especially effective if your child is already showing some signs of tooth decay. After cleaning the affected area, the dentist will apply this coating to give your childs teeth an extra layer of protection.

If your child is performing any kind of activity that involves contact and may cause trauma to their face (and their teeth,) then they should use a mouthguard as a prevention method. Not only that this will ensure the protection of their teeth, but you will also avoid additional costs with expensive dental treatments and procedures.

Fluoride is essential to our oral health, which is why we use fluoride toothpaste. Fluoride is especially useful if your child is at risk of developing cavities as it can offer the mineral they need to strengthen their teeth. A fluoride treatment works by remineralizing the damaged areas of the tooth.

Even if you are very careful about your kids oral hygiene, its very easy for food particles to get stuck in their teeth. A dentist has the right tool to get where a regular toothbrush cant and remove any debris or plaque that might have accumulated.

If your child lost a baby tooth prematurely, then your dentist might recommend a space maintainer. These devices are used to ensure that there is enough room in your childs mouth for permanent teeth to emerge.

At Dentistry For Children, we put an emphasis on preventive dentistry as we think is key to great oral health. We strive to create a safe and fun environment for kids and a place where parents can feel like they will get the kind of guidance they need.

Have you ever caught a whiff of your childs breath in the morning only to be nearly knocked over from the smell? Foul-smelling breath, or halitosis, is a common problem among children, especially when they first wake up in the morning. However, if the odor is extreme, persistent, and does not respond to oral hygiene, you should take them to the dentist, as there may be something else going on.

Halitosis is the clinical term for foul-smelling breath. It has a variety of causes, such as poor oral hygiene, dry mouth, medical conditions, side effects from medications, or your child may simply have eaten smelly food.

Halitosis can sometimes be a symptom of a larger problem, such as a sinus infection or diabetes. In teenagers, bad breath may be caused by smoking or an eating disorder. The best way to determine the cause of your childs bad breath is to monitor their eating and brushing habits.

The most common culprit is a combination of eating odor-producing foods and inadequate brushing and flossing. This results in a buildup of bacterial plaque which produces volatile sulfur compounds, causing a foul sulfur smell.

The good news is that the most common cause of halitosis is entirely preventable. Plaque forms as a result of food particles that are left behind in the mouth from improper brushing and flossing. Your child must brush their teeth with fluoride toothpaste twice a day for at least 2 minutes.

Make sure they dont neglect to brush their tongue which also harbors a lot of bacteria. Many kids dont necessarily have a problem with brushing its the flossing that they tend to neglect. However, if your child only brushes and never flosses, theyre neglecting of the surface of their teeth!

They should also stay hydrated to prevent dry mouth, which can produce a foul odor in the mouth. Avoiding excess consumption of sugary and acidic foods and drinks can reduce smelly breath and cavities.

Children are usually at very high risk for cavities, especially in the first decade of their life. Even with good dental hygiene at home, it is still possible for some food particles and bacteria to remain in their mouth, which, over time, can cause cavities. Not only that, but the child can also experience plaque build-up on the teeth, which can have an unwanted effect on the health of their gums, even leading to periodontitis.

However, with dental cleanings done around once every six months, a lot of unwanted dental problems can be avoided. Lets look at some of the biggest benefits of taking your child to routine dental cleanings:

A professional dental cleaning is one of the only ways to thoroughly clean the entire mouth. The dentist can remove plaque from the teeth and even get to areas of the mouth that are almost impossible to do at home, ensuring your child has a much lower risk of cavities and plaque formation.

During the dental cleanings, the dentist can take a look at your childs oral health and monitor it throughout their development. This gives both you and the child the peace of mind that their dental health is on the right track.

The same can be said about any issues with the childs bite, or misalignments when their adult teeth start growing. Dental cleanings provide a great opportunity to stay on top of your childs dental health and take swift action if necessary.

A pediatric dentist has received an extra 2-3 years of further education and training outside of traditional dental school to specialize in treating children. This makes pediatric dentists better equipped, more knowledgeable, and specially trained in the psychology and behavior of children than a regular or family dentist.

At Dentistry For Children, we treat children of all ages, from their very first tooth until theyre 18 years old. Were committed to setting them on the right path of oral health and proper dental care that will last a lifetime.

Its incredibly important to establish good oral care early on in your childs life which is why we have no minimum age requirement, unlike many family dental practices. Establishing a relationship with the patient early on helps relieve anxiety and stress and were able to prevent tooth decay and gum disease with regular cleanings and checkups.

Deciduous teeth are structurally different from permanent teeth and require special care, attention, and knowledge to treat to avoid causing issues in the future. A pediatric dentist knows how to anticipate future consequences of your childs tooth health, alignment, and eruption. We can also treat problems that are specific to young children such as tongue ties, teething, baby bottle tooth decay, thumb sucking & pacifier use.

For children with significant dental anxiety and special needs, we offer dental sedation such as nitrous oxide and general anesthesia. Our medical team is trained on how to cater to the medical needs of children with medical disabilities and special needs.

We offer preventative, restorative, and emergency dental treatments for your childs every need in addition to assistance with maintaining a healthy diet and weaning your child off of harmful oral habits such as prolonged thumb sucking and pacifier use.

Preventive dental treatments include regular cleanings and checkups, x-rays, dental sealants, and fluoride treatments that all prevent the formation of cavities, tooth decay, and gum disease. Checkups also allow for early detection and prevention of oral cancer.

If your child does get a cavity, we can fill it with tooth-colored composite resin fillings. Damaged or weakened baby teeth can also be covered with stainless steel crowns to protect them from wear and tear.

Rarely, your child might need a tooth extracted, but this is done as a last resort. At Dentistry For Children, we do everything we can to save your childs teeth, even if theyre baby teeth. However, sometimes decay has become too severe or a tooth has been too damaged to repair and the tooth is unsalvageable.

In other cases, a tooth may need to be extracted to make enough room for orthodontic treatment. In either case, we would extract the tooth and insert a space maintainer to keep the space open for the permanent tooth to erupt and to prevent the surrounding teeth from shifting around.