Caring For Your Child’s Mouth After a Dental Procedure
By Gary Richardson | Published on January 5, 2011 | 0 Comments
While it is essential that you bring your child in for regular dental cleanings every six months once her primary teeth start erupting, it is equally important to maintain a strong oral health routine at home as well. Though your child many only have a few teeth, it is important to get into the habit of regular cleanings early on so that brushing her teeth becomes as routine as eating breakfast and getting ready for bed.
Though introducing and maintaining a beneficial oral regimen at home is dependent upon each individual and family, Gary Richardson DDS, a children’s dentist in Las Vegas, explains that the general rule of thumb is for parents to brush their children’s teeth for them until they are able to write in cursive by themselves. At this point, he continues, the children have exemplified that they have the manual dexterity to complete a thorough brushing on their own. Regardless of your child’s age and whether you are assisting or not, brushing, flossing, and rinsing, should occur at least twice a day.
As responsible or independent as your child may be when it comes to getting ready each day, chances are that she may be too lax when it comes to taking care of her mouth after an oral procedure—when cleanliness is most important. At the very least, if your child is insistent on taking care of her mouth on her own, then you should at least supervise in the bathroom to make sure that everything is being done correctly and for the necessary amount of time.
Following an oral procedure at Adventure Smiles, Dr. Richardson explains, every patient’s parent is given detailed post-operative instructions. Closely following these directions will help prevent any infection in the upcoming days and weeks.
In addition to the care taken at home, Dr. Richardson also says that in some instances of treatment, a follow-up visit may be necessary to check on the progress of the procedure and ensure that healing is occurring normally. Of course, Adventure Smiles urges parents to follow up with their children’s dentists at least every six months for preventative care and to monitor their oral development. The age at which children visit a pediatric dentist are crucial for development and growth, and Dr. Richardson is devoted to making sure that each of his young patients stays on track toward maintaining healthy, straight smiles.
Pediatric dentistry is a special area of dentistry that takes a certain amount of dedication on the part of the dental staff as well as the parent or guardian who works with the patient at home. Until your child is able to fully understand the value and importance of a healthy smile, you, as a parent, need to make sure that everything is being done to minimize occurrences of tooth decay and gum disease. Essentially, you need to serve as an advocate for your child’s oral health. But hey, that’s all part of being a parent.
*Disclaimer: The information on this website is not intended to substitute for the medical expertise and advice of your healthcare provider. We encourage you to discuss any decisions about treatment or care with an appropriate healthcare provider.