Teeth Cleanings

Why does my child need teeth cleanings?

Professional teeth cleanings ensure that your child’s smile is staying as healthy as possible. There are certain areas of the mouth that some children accidentally miss when they brush or floss, and certain buildup that can only be removed by a professional cleaning.

Making sure that these areas and buildup are addressed helps to prevent your child from developing troubling oral health conditions like tooth decay and gum disease.

When should my child start getting teeth cleanings?

Leeward Pediatric Dentistry recommends bringing your child in for dental cleanings as soon as they have their first teeth, which can sometimes even mean before their first birthday.

Even though your child’s smile won’t need that much maintenance at that point, regular visits with the team help to develop a relationship with your child and to make them comfortable with dental care in general.

Dental anxieties tend to develop at a young age and can persist stubbornly well into adulthood, so creating a fun and friendly dental experience for your child early on can do wonders for their oral health for years to come.

What happens during my child’s teeth cleaning?

Your dentist or dental hygienist uses special tools to remove the plaque and tartar buildup from your child’s smile. In some cases, they’ll make the procedure more comfortable and effective with an ultrasonic scaler, which is a dental tool that uses precise soundwaves to break up plaque and tartar on your child’s teeth for an even deeper clean.

After they’ve scaled your child’s teeth, they perform a professional brushing, polishing, and flossing. They offer different flavors of toothpaste for your child in order to make the experience more fun and customized to their unique preferences, not to mention tasty. 

Once the team has finished cleaning your child’s teeth, they give them a balloon, a toy, and a brand new toothbrush, which makes the experience even more fun for them.

What extra protection do you provide in my child’s teeth cleaning?

In addition to their routine cleaning, Leeward Pediatric Dentistry also offers dental sealants and fluoride treatments for their patients.

Dental sealants are thin plastic coatings that your dentist applies to the chewing surfaces of your child’s back teeth, where they provide extra protection against tooth decay.

Fluoride treatments also give your child’s teeth extra protection against tooth decay and can be administered as a dietary supplement, a mouth rinse, or professionally applied gels and varnishes.

The office sells a special fluoride gel called Omni Gel™ for all of its patients who are at a higher risk of dental decay.

How often does my child need a teeth cleaning?

Leeward Pediatric Dentistry recommends bringing in your child for a cleaning every six months unless they’re currently being treated for gum disease or another dental condition, in which case they might need more frequent cleanings.

Schedule your cleaning today by calling the offices at Leeward Pediatric Dentistry or booking an appointment online.