Most parents know children’s oral health basics: brush regularly, reduce sugar intake, limit snacking, and get adequate amounts of calcium and Vitamin D. Yuma Family Dentist recommends three additional tools for preventing cavities in toddlers and children.
- Sealants
- Fluoride supplements
- Oral rinses
Resin dental sealants are applied by your dentist. The material bonds to the chewing surfaces of the back teeth, protecting the pits and fissures from decay. Some AZ dental insurance providers cover dental sealants, so check with your provider if you are considering them.
Fluoride supplements help strengthen still-forming teeth prior to eruption. You can get a prescription from your pediatrician or talk to us. There is one caveat, however: if you have fluoridated water, your pediatrician may advise against taking additional fluoride in supplement form.
If your child is taking fluoride supplements, is an oral rinse redundant? Actually, no. Fluoride supplements help strengthen teeth that are still forming, but a fluoride rinse helps teeth that have already come in. Oral rinses containing fluoride can be purchased at any Foothills, Winter Haven, CA, or Somerton grocery store. Make sure you buy one specifically formulated for children. Products labeled as a mouthwash are usually intended only for breath-freshening and may not contain fluoride.
I recommend children use an oral rinse after they brush and floss at night. Rinses are most effective when they are the last substance on teeth before kids go to bed.
At Yuma Family Dentist, we believe that with proper preventative dentistry, Yuma area kids can enjoy healthy teeth for life.
Contact Yuma Family Dentist:928-783-0804
Location (Tap to open in Google Maps):
1630 S Pacific Ave Ste 104
Yuma, AZ
85365
