How A Dental Checkup Benefits Kids’ Oral Health

It is recommended that kids have regular dental checkups every three to six months to monitor tooth movement, tooth decay and conduct a thorough cleaning of their oral cavity. It can be hard for little kids to remember to brush and floss their teeth each day, and many times they are surrounded by sugary foods that eat away at their enamel. For this reason, it’s important that your children regularly visit their dentist to keep cavities and other oral health problems from developing. Find out how kids benefit from dental checkups and what to expect during a visit with this guide!

Why Dental Exams Are Necessary

Our teeth are the strongest substances in our bodies, but they need to be cared for to ensure that they can last us for a lifetime. Kids especially need dental care as they’re prone to developing tooth decay and cavities, which puts their oral health at risk. For this reason, it’s important that parents bring their children in for regular dental checkups so that their teeth, gums and other parts of their oral cavity can be examined for decay and disease. Dental exams typically include a thorough teeth cleaning by a hygienist while also checking for gum disease and cavities. The exam itself is pretty quick and painless, which makes it much easier for young children who get nervous about going to the dentist. However, the dental exam isn’t done just to monitor your teeth; it is a great way to check your overall health since many medical conditions, like diabetes, lupus and rheumatoid arthritis, often show their first symptoms in the mouth, even in young kids. The dentist may even take dental X-rays to evaluate jawbone health, impacted teeth and tumors that could be developing.

What To Expect During A Dental Checkup

Once your child is in the dental chair, the dental checkup will begin. You, as the parent, will be asked about your child’s past and current health history to help the dentist gauge what areas need to be addressed before the exam begins. The dentist will typically focus on the areas of your kid’s teeth that are hardest for him/her to reach when brushing and flossing, such as the back molars, where cavities often develop. Using a metal probe and mirror, the dentist will check the teeth and gums for signs of decay and examine the depth of your kid’s gingival pockets for signs of gum disease. Kids’ teeth are almost always cleaned during a dental checkup to remove built-up plaque around their teeth. The dentist or hygienist will use a metal instrument to scrape the gum line where plaque resides, along with flossing between and polishing the teeth. Removing plaque is an important part of a dental checkup because it is a big contributor to cavities, bad breath and gum disease. Your child should also expect the dentist to perform the following during their dental checkup:

• Check their bite and jaw
• Identify tooth and/or root decay
• Assess their need for fluoride
• Remove stains on their teeth
• Evaluate their overall oral hygiene
• Teach them proper cleaning techniques

Depending on their age, the dentist might take X-rays of your child’s teeth to monitor their tooth movement and get a better view of what’s going on underneath the surface of their gums. Every few years your child should get X-rays done of their teeth anyways, but it’s not always done with each dental checkup.

How To Keep Kids’ Teeth Healthy At Home

To have a successful dental checkup, it’s important that kids are taking care of their teeth at home so that they don’t have to worry about getting fillings to treat their cavities or have teeth pulled. While these situations occasionally occur, they are completely preventable if your child has good oral hygiene at home. Most kids need to see their dentist every three to six months, but if they have troublesome dental problems, they may need to come in sooner than that. To avoid more dental visits, encourage your child to brush and floss their teeth each day and use mouthwash when appropriate. Brushing and flossing eliminates most dental problems that young kids experience, but it can be difficult for them to remember to do it. Try incorporating a dental calendar or some type of game that will help remind them to brush their teeth each day. Make sure that the toothpaste that they’re using has fluoride in it, as well, which will help strengthen their tooth enamel and simultaneously prevent cavities. Good oral hygiene habits at home will not only ensure a good dental checkup in the future, but great oral health.

Schedule Your Child’s Dental Checkup With Us!

If your child is due for their next dental checkup, contact Stonebrook Family Dental at (303) 872-7907 to schedule an appointment. Your family’s oral health needs are our priority, and we can guarantee that your child will feel comfortable during their checkup. Call today to protect your children’s oral health!