Categories: Family Dentist

Family Dentist, Bay Dental Associates Can Prevent Children’s Tooth Decay

If you have kids, it is important to visit the family dentist on a regular basis. Just like you would take your children to the doctor for their annual physical, they should also have their teeth cleaned at least once a year and preferably twice. Kids have a more difficult time doing a thorough job of brushing and flossing. This makes it more important to take them in for regular teeth cleanings because there is a higher chance that bacteria will become trapped on their teeth and gums.

At Bay Dental Associates, we treat everyone in the family and try to make it as easy as possible for you and your kids to stay in excellent oral health. Preventative dental care is an important step in the process and involves these regular appointments. If we identify any signs of cavities or gum disease, we will inform you right away and make suggestions for treatment. This includes how we will remove the infection and the various forms of pain relief we can use to keep your child comfortable. Open communication is key because it gives you the opportunity to express your opinion and for your child to ask any questions about their health. We want kids to be engaged because it will help them to take responsibility for their oral health in the long run.

In addition to providing in-office treatment, we like to educate our patients so that they know what to do at home in order to stay in good oral health. As a family dentist, we are frequently asked what is safe and what isn’t safe to eat or drink. The first thing to note is that keeping sugar off of your teeth, and your kids’ teeth, is incredibly important. From the moment they get their first tooth, stop sending them to bed with a bottle of milk or juice. Instead, feed them at night, brush their teeth, and give them water. Otherwise, the sugar will sit on their teeth all night, creating a greater risk for getting cavities. As children age, give them water to drink more than anything else and have them eat healthy snacks like apples and celery instead of chips and cookies.

Certain foods have been known to strengthen teeth. These include green leafy vegetables, nuts, dairy products, lean protein, and crunchy fruits and vegetables. These are the types of foods that your children should eat on a daily basis and as a snack throughout the day. Whenever they eat something sugary, try to brush their teeth right away in order to prevent a tooth infection from forming.

When you bring your kids in for their dental exams, we can also give them a fluoride treatment. We recommend that they get this treatment until they are at least sixteen because it has been proven to reduce cavities in kids. As a family dentist, we want your child to have strong and healthy teeth that are free from pain. These recommendations are some of the ways that they can do so.