The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry recommends children receive dental checkups at least twice a year. If your child is at increased risk of tooth decay, unusual growth patterns, or poor oral hygiene, more frequent visits may be required. Trust Easton Kids Dentist to provide a dental care schedule based on your child's needs.

Routine dental exams help your child remain cavity-free. Cleanings remove debris buildup that can irritate their gums and cause decay. Fluoride treatments restore the enamel's fluoride content, strengthen the teeth, and prevent cavities. Your child also receives hygiene instructions to improve their brushing and flossing habits, leading to cleaner teeth and healthier gums. 

The dentist also checks for changes in your child's oral health and lets you know if your child needs additional fluoride treatments,  dietary changes, or sealants for optimal oral health. Orthodontic problems and suggested treatment is also identified as teeth emerge in the mouth.

To help keep your child cavity-free, follow these steps:

• Avoid frequent snacking
• Brush twice a day with fluoride toothpaste
• Floss once per day
• Have sealants applied as needed
• Schedule regular dental appointments
• Ensure proper fluoride intake through drinking water, fluoride supplements, or other products

A balanced diet is required for proper teeth development and to maintain maintain healthy gum tissue. A diet that is high in certain kinds of carbohydrates, including sugars and starches, may put your child at a higher risk of tooth decay.

Ensure your child has a balanced diet, and reduce their intake of foods with sugars or starches, including breads, crackers, pasta, snacks, pretzels, and potato chips.

When checking for sugar intake, remember that foods like fruits, some vegetables, most milk products, processed food, peanut butter and jelly, ketchup, and salad dressings all have at least one type of sugar that leads to tooth decay. 

No! Many foods with sugars and starches provide nutrients your child needs. The key is to choose foods wisely. Foods with sugar or starch are better for teeth when eaten as part of a meal instead of a snack. Sticky foods, such as dried fruit or toffee, have more cavity-causing potential than other foods because they are not easily washed away. Trust our pediatric dentists to inform you on how to make smart decisions regarding food selection.

No. A balanced diet does not guarantee the proper amount of fluoride. If your community is not fluoridated or you do not have an ideal amount of naturally occurring fluoride in your well water, your child may require a fluoride supplement while their teeth are developing. We will assess the level of fluoride your child needs for healthy teeth.

We recommend that you do not nurse a young child to sleep or put him to bed with a bottle of milk, formula, juice, or sweetened liquid. Any liquid that remains unswallowed as your child sleeps will feed bacteria that produce acid and attack the teeth. Prevent severe tooth decay by putting your child to bed with only a pacifier or a bottle of water.

Here are a few diet and dental health tips for your child:

• Allow our pediatric dentists to assess your child's diet.
• Limit the sugary or starchy snacks in your pantry, and reserve these "fun foods" for special occasions only.
• Provide a balanced diet and reserve foods with sugar or starch for meals.
• Avoid putting your child to bed with a bottle of milk, formula, or juice that contains sugar.
• Choose sugar-free gums or sodas.