We have reached the end of February, which is also the end of National Children’s Dental Health Month! While this month is almost over, your child’s dental health should always be of high importance. In today’s blog, your Charles City, IA, family dentist will share tips for helping your child have great oral hygiene habits at home as well as the importance of bringing your children in for checkups every six months to ensure their continued health.
Brushing and Flossing
Each day at home, you should be modeling good oral hygiene habits for your child. Your child learns by mimicking what you do, so you should always be conscious of practicing helpful habits such as:
- Brushing your teeth thoroughly twice a day, being sure to reach the back of your mouth and the backs of your teeth
- Brushing for two minutes every time (setting a timer if needed)
- Brushing your tongue
- Using a toothpaste that contains fluoride to help prevent cavities
- Flossing well each day
Maintaining good dental hygiene practices will benefit both you and your child, as you will each carry these habits as you age, and they will help to keep your child’s smile cavity free and developing properly.
Preparing for the Dentist
At Central Park Dentistry, we know that media portrayals of dentists can be a cause for alarm for our patients, especially our younger patients. While we do our best to help your child feel comfortable in our office, you can help to prepare your child to visit the dentist by reading books or watching videos about the dentist and even bringing them along with you to each of your appointments. Normalizing the experience of visiting the dentist makes it much less frightening, and watching you be brave and calm at the dentist will help your child to mirror that behavior, making it a much more pleasant experience for them.
What We Do
At your child’s checkup and cleaning, our friendly staff will examine their mouth for any warning signs of issues like tooth decay or underdevelopment. If anything is found, we may recommend preventative care like fluoride treatments to strengthen their teeth or dental sealants to prevent food from getting stuck in deeper crevices. Of course, if we find a cavity or other issue, we may suggest restorative care such as a dental filling. We will also clean your child’s smile thoroughly, removing all the tartar and plaque that usually can’t be removed at home, to prevent cavities and set your child up for dental health success. Attending these visits every six months will allow us to track your child’s development and to watch any trouble spots for bigger issues, making six month appointments incredibly important to your child’s dental and overall health.
Let Us Help Your Child’s Teeth
A child’s dental health is incredibly important, so if it’s time for your child’s six month checkup and cleaning, schedule a visit by calling Central Park Dentistry in Charles City, IA, today at (641) 228-1115. We also proudly welcome patients from Osage, New Hampton, and all surrounding communities.
