{"id":199,"date":"2019-07-05T16:45:06","date_gmt":"2019-07-05T16:45:06","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.midlandkidsdentist.com\/blog\/?p=199"},"modified":"2019-08-05T16:46:01","modified_gmt":"2019-08-05T16:46:01","slug":"pediatric-dentist-in-midland-back-to-school","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.midlandkidsdentist.com\/blog\/pediatric-dentist-in-midland-back-to-school\/","title":{"rendered":"Kick Off Back-to-School Season With a Visit to a Pediatric Dentist in Midland"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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As a parent, the back-to-school season can be stressful. You can put your worries at rest when you get your child\u2019s clean bill of health from a pediatric dentist in Midland before school starts up. This way, you won\u2019t have to worry about any dental emergencies cropping up during the busiest time of year. Even if your little one keeps up with their oral hygiene routine, a professional cleaning and checkup<\/a> is vital to ensure their oral and overall health. Read on to learn why.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

When Should Your Child See The Dentist?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

There\u2019s no how-to book that answers basic questions like when your child should go to the dentist or how much toothpaste they should use at what age. The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry advises parents to take their little ones to visit the dentist by the time they turn one, or within six months of when their first tooth appears. After that, to ensure that their oral health is in the best shape, it\u2019s best to take them for a checkup and cleaning every six months. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

What Happens During a Checkup and Cleaning?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Even if your child is diligent about brushing and flossing\nevery day, getting a professional checkup and cleaning is vital to warding off\ncommon oral health problems such as cavities. During their routine visit, the\npediatric dentist will inspect your son or daughter\u2019s teeth and gums to make\nsure their mouth is developing properly. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

After the checkup, a dental hygienist who is professionally trained to keep your little one\u2019s teeth and gums clean and healthy will start off by clearing plaque and tartar from their mouth. They have small, specially crafted tools that spot and clear the nooks and crannies that you can\u2019t get to with a regular toothbrush. This also helps reduce the number of harmful oral bacteria in their mouth. Next, the hygienist will polish your child\u2019s teeth with a slightly gritty paste that helps remove surface stains. They\u2019ll then floss their teeth so they can have a great-looking smile just in time for school pictures! <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Why Should You Get Your Child a Checkup and Cleaning Before School Starts?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Small smiles are fragile, which is why it\u2019s vital that\nchildren have routine checkups and cleanings with their pediatric dentist. The\nCenters for Disease Control and Prevention reports that over 40 percent of\nchildren in the United States have dental decay by the time they\u2019re\nkindergarteners. This can commonly be caused by diets that are high in sugar\nand carbohydrates. Some benefits of routine checkups and cleanings before the\nschool year begins, include:<\/p>\n\n\n\n