Protective Dental Sealants
Dental sealants are a type of preventative dental care made of a thin protective coating applied to the surfaces of a child’s back molars. Usually made of plastic or resin, this coating helps prevent cavities by shielding the teeth from food particles that can turn into bacteria. The back molars, with their deep pits and grooves, tend to trap food more easily. Coupled with their location at the back of the mouth, they are more difficult to clean effectively and more prone to cavities than the other teeth. At Central Park Pediatric Dentistry, we offer quick and comfortable dental sealant procedures at our Central Park, Steiner Ranch and Dripping Springs offices!
Fluoride Treatments
Fluoride is a naturally occurring mineral that helps strengthen the tooth’s outer layer, called the enamel. When used in preventative dental care treatments, it can slow down or even reverse tooth decay. Although fluoride cannot fully prevent cavities on its own, when combined with good oral hygiene practices—like brushing twice a day, flossing daily, maintaining a healthy diet and regularly visiting the dentist—it provides effective protection against tooth decay. At Central Park Pediatric Dentistry, we offer fluoride treatments, during your child’s routine visit to help foster a healthy, cavity-free smile!
Routine Dental Cleanings And Exams
As your child’s trusted dental partner, we recommend bringing your child in for a visit every six months, or as recommended by our team. During their visit, we will thoroughly clean their teeth, and Dr. Johnson or Dr. Parker will complete an examination of your child’s mouth. We believe that parents and families are an important part of your child’s dental care team and will discuss any and all of our findings and concerns with you. Twice a year cleanings are important for your child’s oral health, and our team looks forward to getting to know your child!
Why Are Baby Teeth So Important?
Baby teeth, also known as primary teeth, are important to your child’s dental development. Healthy and strong primary teeth play a crucial part in your child’s oral and overall health, as they contribute to your child’s ability to chew and eat, speak and enunciate and help form the developing facial and jaw muscles. Taking care of your child’s primary teeth through preventative dental care and protecting them from cavities will help prevent discomfort, avoid restorative dentistry procedures, help permanent teeth come in correctly and contribute to their confidence, health and happiness as they grow.
At-Home Oral Care
Creating strong, healthy and beautiful smiles starts at home! We are passionate about empowering our patients and their families with the information they need to make good decisions about oral health outside of our office. Our home preventative dental care tips include:
Brush And Floss Everyday:
Make sure your child brushes their teeth twice a day for two full minutes, especially before bedtime, when bacteria is most likely to multiply in the mouth. They should also floss properly once a day!
Model Good Dental Care
Young kids will copy what they see. Modeling good oral hygiene for your child will help them learn how to take care of their teeth themselves, and also show them that it is important.
Limit Sugary Drinks and Food
Help them avoid sugary and carbonated drinks such as juice, soda and energy drinks, which can contribute to tooth decay. Instead, opt for water and milk!
Serve Balanced Meals
A nutritious diet full of leafy greens, grains, lean proteins and low-fat dairy options are not only good for the body, but also the teeth!