As your child navigates the exciting school years, their dental health is undergoing significant changes. Permanent teeth are arriving, jaws are developing, and daily routines are becoming more independent. Establishing solid oral hygiene habits now and being aware of key developmental milestones are crucial for a healthy smile that lasts a lifetime.
This guide explores two vital aspects of dental care for school-aged children: preventing cavities and understanding the role of early orthodontic evaluations.
Preventing Cavities in School-Aged Children
Cavities, or dental caries, remain a common issue for children. In Canada, over half of children aged 6–19 have experienced dental caries.
However, with consistent care, many cavities are preventable, especially as those important permanent molars arrive.
Daily Oral Hygiene Habits: Consistency is Key
- Brushing: Children should brush their teeth thoroughly twice a day for two minutes each time.
- Use a fluoride toothpaste in a pea-sized amount, ensuring all surfaces are cleaned.
- Supervise younger school-aged children to ensure they are reaching all areas and not swallowing excessive toothpaste.
- Flossing: Once teeth begin to touch side-by-side, it’s time to introduce flossing.
Daily flossing removes plaque and food particles from between teeth where brushes can’t reach, preventing cavities and gum issues.
The Role of Diet: What Your Child Eats and Drinks Significantly Impacts Their Cavity Risk.
Limit sugary snacks, drinks, and sticky foods. Bacteria in the mouth feed on sugar and produce acids that erode tooth enamel.
Encourage drinking water, especially after meals or snacks, to help rinse away food particles and neutralize acids.
Professional Preventative Measures: Your dentist plays a critical role in cavity prevention.
Dental Sealants: These are thin, plastic coatings painted onto the chewing surfaces of back teeth (molars and premolars).
They fill in the pits and grooves where food particles and bacteria often hide, effectively sealing them off.
Dental sealants can prevent up to 80% of cavities over two years on the chewing surfaces of molars.
School-aged children without sealants have almost three times more cavities in first molars than those with sealants.
Fluoride Treatments: In addition to fluoride toothpaste, professional fluoride treatments can significantly strengthen enamel and help prevent cavities. Fluoride varnish is particularly effective in reducing cavities in children aged 6–12.
The Importance of Regular Dental Check-up in Orangeville
Routine dental visits are fundamental to maintaining your child’s oral health.
It’s recommended that children visit the dentist for a check-up and cleaning every six months.
During these appointments:
The dentist or hygienist will thoroughly clean the teeth, removing plaque and tartar that brushing might miss.
A comprehensive examination will look for early signs of cavities, gum disease, or teeth sensitivity problems that might not be visible at home.
- X-rays may be taken to check for cavities between teeth or monitor jaw development. Professional fluoride treatments or dental sealants can be applied as needed.
- These visits provide an opportunity to discuss your child’s oral hygiene habits, answer any questions you may have, and offer tailored advice.
- Regular check-ups allow dentists to catch problems early; therefore, less expensive to treat, setting the stage for long-term oral health.
Understanding Early Orthodontic Evaluations
While preventing cavities is a primary focus, the school years also represent a critical time for jaw and teeth development.
This is why the American Association of Orthodontists recommends that children have their first orthodontic evaluation by age 7.
The “Why” and “When”:
Around age 7, most children have a mix of primary (“baby”) teeth and permanent teeth.
This mixed dentition stage allows an orthodontist to assess the development of the jaws, the alignment of the bite, and identify potential issues before they become more complex.
It’s not necessarily about getting braces right away, but about early detection and planning.
Benefits of Early Teeth Evaluation for Your Child
Identifying issues early can offer significant advantages:
- Guiding Jaw Growth: Intervention can help guide jaw growth to create better facial symmetry.
- Making Space: Early treatment (sometimes called Phase 1 or interceptive orthodontics) can create space for crowded erupting permanent teeth.
- Correcting Bites: Problems like crossbites or underbites can be addressed early, which is often easier than correcting them later.
- Reducing Trauma Risk: Correcting protruding front teeth can reduce the risk of dental trauma.
- Simplifying Future Treatment: Addressing some issues early may simplify or even eliminate the need for more extensive treatment later on.
What to Expect While Teeth Cavity Prevention –
An early orthodontic evaluation is usually a quick, non-invasive visit.
The orthodontist will examine your child’s teeth and jaw, potentially take some X-rays, and assess their bite.
They will determine if treatment is needed now, if the child should be monitored, or if no intervention is required at this time.
Signs Your Kid’s Dental Needs Involve an Orthodontic Evaluation Sooner
While the age 7 evaluation is recommended, some signs might indicate a need to see an orthodontist earlier.
Consult your dentist or an orthodontist if you notice:
- Early or late loss of baby teeth
- Difficulty chewing or biting
- Mouth breathing
- Thumb or finger sucking that continues past age 5
- Crowded, misplaced, or blocked-out teeth
- Jaws that shift or make sounds
- Biting the cheek or the roof of the mouth
- Teeth that don’t meet at all, or meet in an abnormal way (crossbite, underbite, open bite)
- A facial imbalance or asymmetry
- Grinding or clenching of teeth
Connecting the Dots: Oral Hygiene and Orthodontics in Orangeville Smiles Dentistry
Good oral hygiene is essential regardless of whether your child needs orthodontic treatment.
If orthodontic appliances like braces are necessary, maintaining excellent daily cleaning habits becomes even more critical.
Food particles and plaque can easily get trapped around brackets and wires, increasing the risk of cavities and gum inflammation.
Your dental team will provide specific instructions on how to brush and floss effectively with orthodontics.
Conclusion: Importance of Early Oral Assessment
The school-aged years are a pivotal time for establishing lifelong oral health habits and monitoring proper development. Consistent daily care at home, combined with regular dental check-ups for preventive treatments like sealants and fluoride, are powerful tools in preventing cavities. Furthermore, understanding the importance of an early orthodontic evaluation by age 7 can help identify and address potential bite or alignment issues early, potentially leading to simpler treatment outcomes. Partnering with a caring dental team who understands the unique needs of school-aged children is key. They can provide tailored advice, professional cleanings and treatments, and guide you on the best time for an orthodontic evaluation. Does your child need a dental check-up or are you curious about whether an early orthodontic evaluation is right for them?
Contact Viva Dental Orangeville to schedule an appointment and ensure your child’s smile is healthy and developing properly.
