Why Regular Dental Checkups are Important for Families

Regular visits to the dentist not only ensure bright smiles – they also allow you to maintain small problems before they escalate and create healthy habits throughout life. Making sure your family has a regular schedule for dental visits reduces time, money, and stress while teaching kids that the dentist is a friendly and healthy way to take care of oneself.

What Happens During a Family Dental Checkup?

The check-up is easy, comfortable, and family-friendly. A dentist will look for early signs of decay and gum disease before discussing your at-home care options. If you have questions about thumb-sucking, mouth guards, braces, or whitening, this may also be a good time to discuss them.

• A history review of medical and dental issues including concerns and medications
• Teeth, gums, bite and jaw joint exam that is gentle. Kids will see a dentist that has had specialized training in pediatric dentistry.
• X-rays using low radiation when appropriate to aid in finding hidden cavities
• Professional cleaning to remove plaque and tartar from places that home care cannot reach
• Individualized hygiene education and suggestions for brushing and flossing

How Often Should Kids and Adults Go to the Dentist?

Most families find that visiting the dentist every 6-months is best. Children who have frequent cavities, wear braces, or snack frequently may need to visit the dentist a little more often. Adults with gum disease, dry mouth, diabetes, or a history of decay may find shorter intervals beneficial as well. If you’re busy, ask the provider to send you date stamped reminders so you can be confident you have routine preventive dental care.

Preventing Cavities Before They Start

The good news is that cavities are highly preventable, given a few strategies for limiting sugar exposure, encouraging remineralization of your enamel, and decreasing bacteria. Your dentist will assist specifically with the professional administration of either cavity prevention or remineralization, based on your age, diet, and caries risk, so the combinations will be virtually eliminating efforts into your day.

• Dental sealants which your dentist will place on the biting surfaces of molars to “seal out” food and bacteria. Click here for more information.
• Use fluoride toothpaste, a rice-size smear for less than three years, a pet-size amount for three years and older
• Provide water in between mealtimes, and juice or other sports drinks on rare occasions
• If you can, provide tooth-friendly nutritious snacks, such as cheese, cheese yogurt, nuts, and crunchy vegetables

The Role of Cleanings and Fluoride Treatments

Beyond a shiny smile, cleanings are important and necessary to support oral health. Your hygienist will remove hardened tartar that cannot be removed by average daily brushing. Thus, helping mitigate gum inflammation and halitosis, increasing the chance of preventing gum disease. Fluoride treatment allows the repair of a weakened enamel surface, plus the teeth are more resistant to acid attacks to food and bacteria. The combination of cleaning and fluoride treatment will support and maintain a health smile between dental visits, reversing or decreasing the chance of filling.

Healthy Habits to Practice at Home

The most important is the daily habits you practice, keeping them short, simple and consistent gives children independence and feeling accomplished and builds interest in dental hygiene. Practice brushing as a family, sent a timer for 2 minutes and do a family teeth brushing time from every age and stage, every family dentist visit and the ideas we discussed will become cheer leaders during your dental health check-ups.

• take turns brushing your teeth two times a day with fluoride toothpaste, floss at least once a day. Floss picks are more than fine for little hands.
• Change your toothbrushes every 3 months, or if we get sick, throw it away.
• If you play a contact sport wear a mouthguard or if you have a grinding issue wear a nightguard.

If you’d like to build an even warmer and friendly local team into your community member, here is another dental practice you can check into, visit or reach out to:

Gates Family Dentistry of Wilsonville PC
Town Center Loop W., Wilsonville, OR 97070
(503) 682-2110
https://gatesdentistrywilsonville.com/

Conclusion

Regular visits will allow you to better support your family’s oral health, prevent small issues from becoming big ones, and help maintain a beautiful smile at any age. Almost every cavity can be avoided with good cleanings, fluoride, and a couple of simple actions each day. If you have not seen a dentist in over 6 months, schedule a day that works for your family, and get the family back into the dentist for your next check-up. Usually, insurance will cover the costs for a routine check-up and dental cleaning, which can make dental prevention the most economical option. Write down a phone reminder now and keep everyone on the schedule.