Preventive Dentistry

The goal of preventive care is to protect your child’s smile from damage caused by tooth decay, periodontal disease (gum disease), and other damaging dental conditions. Preventive dentistry works to avert these diseases before they cause damage that requires repair. We offer several preventive dental treatments to help you keep your smile in the best possible health. These services include dental sealants and dental cleanings; visiting our office regularly ensures that we detect and treat any early signs of damage before they become more extensive and painful.

There are several steps you can take to prevent cavities and tooth decay. Our pediatric dentists and the team recommend that you follow these guidelines to help minimize your chances of developing cavities:

• Brush and floss your teeth every day. It is recommended to brush at least twice a day and floss at least once a day. Use a soft-bristled toothbrush and a fluoridated toothpaste.
• Maintain a balanced, healthy diet with a limited amount of very sugary or acidic foods.
• Visit our office at least twice a year for a routine tooth cleaning and dental exam.
• Ask our team about dental sealants and fluoride treatment to see if they are right for your child’s smile.

Caring for Your Child’s Teeth

The most important parts of caring for your child’s teeth happen at home. Helping your child avoid bad habits, maintain a healthy mouth, and develop an effective oral hygiene routine at home is equally as beneficial as professional preventive care from our pediatric dentists. We have provided a few tips on brushing and flossing your child’s teeth below. If you have more questions about caring for your child’s teeth in Centerville, Utah, or would like to schedule an appointment with Dr. Mark Nelson or Dr. Treagan White, call our office at 801-295-8322.

How to Brush Your Child’s Teeth

Before your child’s teeth erupt, gently clean their gums with a soft, wet cloth. When the teeth begin to emerge, use a soft-bristled, ADA-approved toothbrush. For children under age two, use a small smear of toothpaste. You may graduate to a pea-sized dollop of toothpaste after the age of three. We recommend using an ADA-approved fluoridated toothpaste. Do not allow your child to swallow the toothpaste. You will need to brush your child’s teeth until they have developed the motor skills to clean their own teeth effectively (about age seven). Monitor your child’s brushing and flossing until about that same age to ensure that they are cleaning their teeth properly.

How to Floss Your Child’s Teeth

It is recommended to begin flossing your child’s teeth as soon as they have two teeth that touch. Flossing daily removes plaque between the teeth and under the gum line where a toothbrush cannot reach. You should floss your child’s teeth for them until they are able to do it on their own.

Our pediatric dentists and team will be happy to demonstrate the best ways of flossing and brushing during your visit to our office. To schedule your child’s appointment and learn more, contact Children’s Dentistry today!

Cavity Prevention

When you visit Children’s Dentistry, Dr. Mark Nelson and Dr. Treagan White will recommend a variety of ways in which you can help your child prevent cavities and maintain a healthy mouth. We are committed to helping your child develop good oral habits that lead to a lifetime of smiles. For more information about cavity prevention in Centerville, Utah, and to schedule an appointment with our pediatric dentists, call us today at 801-295-8322.

Cavities are almost always the result of poor oral hygiene and a sugary diet. You can prevent cavities by:

• Ensuring that your child brushes their teeth at least twice each day and flosses daily.
• Not putting your child to bed with a bottle. If the child insists on having a bottle, fill it only with water.
• Limit the amount of sugary foods and beverages your child consumes.
• Help your child maintain a balanced, nutritious diet and avoid snacking.
• Bring your child to meet with our pediatric dentists every six months for preventive care.
• Ask us about dental sealants and fluoride treatments.
• Ask us about the use of Xylitol for your child’s oral health.

We welcome you to contact our office to learn more about how you can prevent tooth decay and keep your child’s smile healthy or to set up a consultation with our caring pediatric dentists.

Dental Sealants

A sealant is a preventive dental treatment that our pediatric dentists may recommend to protect patients’ teeth from decay. A dental sealant is made of a clear or tooth-colored resin material that is painted onto the chewing surface of teeth. By blocking out the bacteria and food debris that lead to tooth decay, the sealant prevents decay and cavities. The dental sealant forms a smooth coating over the natural pits and grooves of the tooth surface, making it easier to effectively clean teeth with normal brushing.

Dental sealants are most often recommended for children. They are frequently recommended for the permanent molars as soon as they come in, usually between the ages of 6 and 12. We may also recommend dental sealants for adult patients whose teeth are prone to decay or have not been restored or suffered from decay in the past. We can apply dental sealants in just one short, comfortable visit to our practice.

Fluoride Treatment

Fluoride is a mineral that is naturally found in water and many foods. While we receive a certain amount of fluoride from our diet and from using toothpaste with fluoride, our team may recommend fluoride treatment to strengthen the teeth further and prevent cavities. Professional fluoride is available in the form of a gel, varnish, or foam. When you bring your child to meet with our pediatric dentists, we will evaluate their fluoride levels and may provide a topical fluoride treatment to help protect and strengthen their teeth.

Fluoride helps to strengthen your teeth and protect them from tooth decay. As you eat and drink throughout the day, bacteria, sugars, and acids constantly attack and demineralize the enamel of your teeth. Fluoride works to remineralize tooth enamel, preventing tooth decay and cavities. In addition, fluoride can strengthen teeth as they develop to make sure they are strong and healthy. This makes fluoride very important for children as their teeth grow in.

Sports Mouth Guards

If your child participates in organized sports or other recreational activities, we recommend that you bring them to Children’s Dentistry for a sports mouthguard. Sports mouth guards help to protect your child’s teeth and mouth from injury so that they can enjoy both their activity and their smile.

Our pediatric dentists and team are dedicated to keeping your smile healthy and free from discomfort. To help us do this, we provide several types of mouthguards at our office. For our athletic patients, we often recommend a type of mouth guard called an athletic guard or sports guard. Sports guards fit over your teeth while playing sports and participating in other athletic activities to protect your smile from injury. Sports guards are especially important for our patients who play high-contact sports such as wrestling, football, hockey, and rugby; however, all types of athletes can benefit from an athletic mouthguard. Whether you play soccer, basketball, or baseball, a sports guard can be a great way to protect your smile and keep it safe.

While several types of athletic mouthguards are available, a custom-made mouthguard is the most effective in protecting your smile. This type of mouthguard is designed to comfortably fit your smile and prevent dental injury, such as knocked out and chipped teeth. A sports guard can also help prevent injury to the mouth’s soft tissues, including the tongue, lips, cheeks, and gums.