February often comes with handmade valentines, chocolate, candy, and flowers, but did you know it should also come with a dental checkup? February is National Children’s Dental Health Month. That means it is the perfect time to bring your kids in for their annual dental cleaning and checkup to make sure their smile is healthy and happy! Your Bethesda dentist is dedicated to helping children throughout the community have beautiful and healthy smiles. Call our office today to schedule your child’s next visit! 

 

Schedule Their Next Visit

Call your Bethesda dentist today to schedule your child’s next dental cleaning. No matter how good of a job your child does taking care of their teeth, no smile is complete without a professional dental cleaning. Brushing and flossing daily is essential, but it is not enough to combat plaque and tartar, at least not completely. Brushing twice per day and flossing at night can help prevent the buildup of plaque, but it can’t remove tartar. Tartar is created on the surface of your teeth when plaque hardens onto the surface. If not removed, tartar can cause cavities and bacterial infections. Your child needs to visit their Bethesda dentist every six months to have this tartar scaled off of their teeth so that their smile can stay healthy.

 

Get Them New Dental Tools

An easy way to encourage a healthy smile is to get your child some new tools to help care for their smile! A new toothbrush or toothpaste can be an excellent motivator when it comes to dental hygiene. A toothbrush should be replaced every 3 to 4 months for it to remain effective. Children’s toothbrushes come in a variety of colors and sometimes even have characters from their favorite shows! Bring your child to the store to help them choose a toothbrush they can be excited about using! This can help motivate them to brush more often and for longer periods of time. 

 

Bond Through Dental Care Activities

One way to help improve your child’s smile is to make their dental care routine more fun! There are several ways to help your child enjoy the process of caring for their teeth. Some ideas include playing music, a rewards calendar with small prizes, or even just making tooth brushing time a bonding activity. One of the best ways to model good brushing technique is to brush your teeth with them. Your Bethesda dentist may also have activity sheets for your child to complete that can encourage good brushing habits. Ask your Bethesda dentist if they have any recommendations for making your child’s dental hygiene routine more fun!

 

Show Them The Plaque

One way you can teach your child about the dangers of plaque is by having them try a plaque-disclosing tablet. This is a simple and safe way to highlight the plaque on your child’s teeth. This tablet can help your child see where they may be missing when they brush and floss.