Celebrate Spring With a “Spring Cleaning” for Your Kid’s Teeth!

Spring is always an exciting season, especially if winter seemed to go on forever. The days become longer, the weather becomes warmer, families start to play outside, and the world becomes a little more colorful thanks to flowers and trees in bloom. Spring is also a time when many families embark on annual spring cleaning in and around the house. After all, there’s just something relaxing about cleaning out unused clothes, expired food from the fridge, and opening up clean windows to let the breeze in. But did you know that this special season is also a great time to treat your child to a “spring cleaning” for her teeth with your pediatric dentist in The Woodlands? 

Why Are Dental Cleanings Important?

A common piece of advice from pediatric dentists everywhere is that kids should visit at least twice a year for checkups and dental cleanings. But why twice a year? Does your little one still need these cleanings if she brushes and flosses her teeth well at home? Truthfully, yes, dental cleanings are necessary even if you take excellent care of your teeth. They’re even more important for kids as baby teeth help them learn to speak properly and hold the space for their permanent adult teeth. Checkups and cleanings with your pediatric dentist in The Woodlands help:

• Remove Plaque. Plaque is the super sticky stuff that covers teeth. If it’s not removed it can harden into tartar and increase the risk of developing cavities. The thing with plaque is that it can’t be removed at home through regular brushing, so basically everyone develops at least some plaque buildup, even if you brush and floss every day. Thankfully, dental hygienists are trained to remove plaque gently and effectively at cleaning appointments so it doesn’t have the chance to cause problems. 
• Check for Cavities. Besides giving teeth a thorough cleaning, dental appointments with your pediatric dentist in The Woodlands every six months help monitor any changes that may have occurred in your child’s teeth or gums. One of the most common things to find at these checkups is a cavity or two. Cavities are easy to treat when they’re tiny, so it’s important to catch them early. If a cavity is left untreated for too long it can require additional treatment such as a root canal. 
• Monitor Development. We all know that kids’ bodies change rapidly. This is especially true for their teeth. Seeing your pediatric dentist twice a year helps monitor baby tooth eruption, can spot potential problems or the need for orthodontics early, and ensure that adult teeth come in properly. 

Prevention Is The Best Medicine

Having your child brush her teeth twice a day for two minutes each time and floss in between each and every tooth once a day is the best way to have her care for her teeth in between dental checkups. However, these habits alone aren’t enough to fully protect teeth from cavities and other problems. She also needs to see her pediatric dentist in The Woodlands at least twice a year so we can prevent any problems from occurring or stop small problems from becoming big problems. 

If it’s been longer than six months since your child’s last dental checkup and cleaning, we welcome you to call our office to schedule an appointment today. We’re always accepting new patients and would love to see you!  

About The Author

Dr. Leslie Blackburn

Dr. Leslie Blackburn always knew she wanted to work with children and decided to pursue a career in pediatric dentistry. She enrolled at Columbia University College of Dental Medicine, where she received her Doctorate of Dental Surgery and Master of Science in Dental Education. She finished the last leg of her education at Yale University, where she obtained her certificate in Pediatric Dentistry.

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