Pediatric Teeth Cleaning Guide: What to Expect & Benefits

As a new parent, you have a lot on your plate, especially during the first few months and years of your child’s life. Getting your child started with dental care and professional teeth cleanings from a pediatric dentist may not be the first thing you think about, especially if your child only has one or two teeth.

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But what exactly happens during a pediatric teeth cleaning? And how can you make sure your child’s teeth stay strong and healthy in between their six-month visits to SuperKids Pediatric Dentistry? In this comprehensive guide to in-office teeth cleanings, we’ll discuss everything you need to know.

Understanding The Importance Of Early Dental Care

At SuperKids Pediatric Dentistry, we believe in the importance of visits to the dentist for kids of all ages. This is why we follow the AAPD (American Academy of Pediatric Dentists) recommendations for when kids should have their first dental visit. 

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Your child should start seeing one of our dentists starting at the age of one year or whenever their first tooth comes out, whichever happens first. Then, your little one should get an oral exam and a teeth cleaning every six months. Why? Here are just a few reasons why early dental visits are so important for toddlers:

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• Prevent or recognize common oral health issues – Frequent dental visits allow our dentists to catch oral health issues like cavities (tooth decay) early, ensuring we can take appropriate action to keep your child’s mouth healthy.
• Track oral development – With oral exams and X-rays, your child’s pediatric dentist can keep an eye on how their baby teeth, adult teeth, and jaws are growing and developing over the years. If we notice anything that needs further treatment, such as potential orthodontic problems, your little one can get specialized care right away.
• Build comfort and trust in the dentist – Frequent dental visits from a very young age help familiarize kids with dentistry. This builds confidence, comfort, and trust. In turn, this also reduces the risk of future issues like dental anxiety and fear.
• Create lifelong habits – During every visit with your child’s dentist at SuperKids Pediatric Dentistry, you’ll be able to get care tips and advice on how to help your child build oral health habits that will serve them well for the rest of their life.

The Key Components Of Pediatric Dental Care

Six-month oral exams and teeth cleanings are at the center of pediatric dental care. By seeing your child’s pediatric dentist every six months, you can keep an eye out for signs of cavities, make sure their mouth is developing properly, and get helpful tips that will make brushing, flossing, and oral hygiene easier.

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However, pediatric dental care involves more than just routine checkups. At SuperKids Pediatric Dentistry, we offer all of the services that your child needs to maintain healthy teeth and gums as they mature and grow. Along with twice-yearly oral exams and teeth cleanings, we also offer:

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• X-rays every year (or as recommended) to track oral development
• Fluoride treatments to help strengthen teeth
• Dental sealants to prevent tooth decay in cavity-prone little ones
• Personalized advice for your child’s at-home oral hygiene routine
• Diet and lifestyle tips to help keep your child’s smile shiny, bright, and strong
• Sedation and gentle care for kids who are nervous about dentistry or who have special needs
• Orthodontic assessments starting at the age of 7

What To Expect From A Pediatric Teeth Cleaning

Now that you know a little bit more about the importance of pediatric dentistry, you may have questions about the teeth cleaning process for kids. What exactly happens during each visit? Is it different based on your child’s age? Will your child need X-rays? Below, we’ll answer all of these questions as we get into a step-by-step overview of your child’s visit to SuperKids Pediatric Dentistry.

Meeting your little one

First, your child will meet their dentist at SuperKids Pediatric Dentistry. Led by Dr. Ben Liu, we have a total of seven board-certified pediatric dentists and orthodontists on staff between our locations in Potomac, Alexandria, Sterling, Rockville, and Mt. Vernon.

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During their first visit, your child’s pediatric dentist will take some time to get to know them, introduce themselves, discuss some of the basics about dentistry, and answer any questions you (or your child) may have about their teeth cleaning!

Taking necessary X-rays

Next, your child’s dentist or hygienist will take X-rays of their mouth, if needed. X-rays are not always needed for every child. It depends on their age, oral development, and whether or not they have a history of cavities or other oral health issues. We use modern, digital X-rays to reduce radiation, ensure your little one’s comfort, and get the best possible view of their mouth!

Cleaning plaque and tartar

Next, one of our dental hygienists will check your child’s teeth and look for signs of cavities and other oral health issues. Then, they will use special tools to scrape away any plaque and tartar from their teeth. Not only does this reduce bacteria buildup, but it also keeps your child’s smile looking bright and brilliant!

Polishing and flossing

The next step is to use a special brush and gritty toothpaste to polish your child’s smile and remove any remaining plaque and tartar. Your child can choose the flavor they want, such as bubblegum, mint, and more! Then, their dental hygienist will floss their teeth to remove any debris that still remains after their teeth have been scaled and polished.

Oral exam and finishing up

Lastly, your child’s pediatric dentist will review the hygienist’s findings and your child’s X-rays, then perform a comprehensive oral exam. They will look for signs of tooth decay, gum disease, issues with dental development, and other common oral health issues.

Then, your child’s dentist will discuss their findings with you and your little one. At this time, they’ll let you know if they recommend any additional treatments, like fluoride treatments or dental sealants. You can also ask any questions that you may have about your child’s oral health, and about how you can help protect their smile at home.

It Starts At Home – Building Your Child’s Dental Hygiene Routine

Twice-yearly pediatric teeth cleanings are very important. But once your appointment at SuperKids Pediatric Dentistry is over, you’ll need to make sure you’re taking the proper steps to keep your child’s mouth healthy between visits.

Start brushing twice a day as soon as they have teeth

Once your child’s first teeth come out first (usually their bottom front teeth), you should start brushing them at least twice per day. Most parents choose to brush their child’s teeth once in the morning, then again after their child’s final meal or snack of the day.

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For infants and toddlers, you should use a smear of toothpaste about the size of a grain of rice. Using a “baby toothbrush” with a small head and a large handle can make it easier to brush when your child has just a few teeth.

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Once your child is about 2-3 years old, they should have most of their baby teeth and will be able to spit on command. At this time, you can use a pea-sized amount of fluoride toothpaste. 

Start flossing once two teeth touch

Once your child has two teeth that touch, you should start flossing their teeth once per day. Flossing helps remove food buildup and bacteria that can’t be removed with brushing alone. It helps reduce the risk of gum disease and cavities, so it’s a very important part of your little one’s oral hygiene routine. 

Know when your child can brush and floss on their own

Kids can usually start brushing on their own between the ages of 5-6, or whenever they're coordinated enough to tie their own shoes. Until then, you’ll need to brush for your child to make sure their teeth are getting a deep, thorough cleaning.

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Flossing can be more difficult. Most kids can master flossing around the ages of 7-8. Using floss picks instead of traditional dental floss can make things easier if your child is having a hard time flossing.

Monitor brushing until your child is about 7-8

Even when your child can brush by themselves, you should monitor them until it’s clear that they can brush and floss on their own and are responsible enough to clean their teeth thoroughly. For most kids, this is between the ages of 7-8 years, though your own little one may differ.

Never skip six-month dentist visits

A great at-home oral hygiene routine dramatically reduces your child’s risk of gum disease and cavities. However, six-month visits to SuperKids Pediatric Dentistry are still essential for their oral health.

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During each visit, your child’s pediatric dentist will make sure their mouth is healthy, look for any potential issues with their oral development, and clean away plaque and tartar that simply can’t be eliminated with at-home brushing alone.

Recommended Products For Children’s Teeth Cleaning

Not sure what products you should be using to clean your child’s teeth? Here’s a quick overview of our recommendations at SuperKids Pediatric Dentistry:

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• Fluoride toothpaste – Choose an ADA-accepted product that contains fluoride. Fluoride is an essential mineral for your child’s oral health, since it helps rebuild teeth and protect them from cavities. And despite what some people may tell you, it’s completely safe to use for kids of all ages, infants and toddlers included!

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• Soft-bristled toothbrush – Soft bristles help reduce the risk of enamel wear. If you’re brushing your child’s teeth, choose a toothbrush with a large handle and a small head to make the process easier.
• Dental floss or picks – Dental floss is ideal for cleaning between your child’s teeth. If you or your child have difficulties using traditional floss, plastic floss picks can make the process a bit easier.
  
  
• Water flosser – A water flosser, like a WaterPik, is usually not necessary for younger kids. But for older kids, especially those with braces, a WaterPik can be very useful for blasting away pesky food and other debris from between their teeth.
  
  
• Alcohol-free mouthwash – Kids can start using mouthwash around 7-8 years old, or whenever they can be trusted to swish, gargle, and spit without swallowing it. We recommend choosing an alcohol-free, antibacterial mouthwash that has the ADA Seal of Acceptance.

Tips For Making Brushing Fun (And Overcoming Resistance)

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Children’s dental hygiene is not always easy. Some kiddos don’t like the feeling of having their teeth brushed, while others may have issues standing still while you brush their teeth.

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But with the following tips, you can clean your kid’s teeth with less stress and turn brushing into a positive, fun experience for the whole family!

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• Make it a family activity – When you brush as a family, you can lead by example. Not only that, but you can make things more fun for your kid. You can play games, make funny faces in the mirror, “play dentist,” and make things more fun for everyone!
• Turn on a song and dance along – You can turn on a song from your child’s favorite Disney movie, YouTube video, or anything else they like! There are even some toothbrushes for kids that play songs from the handle, or even use vibrations to “play” the song from their teeth as they brush.

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• Use positive reinforcement, like rewards and charts – For example, you could create a monthly calendar, and put a gold star on each day that your child brushes their teeth. Then, at the end of a month, your child could get a special treat like a small toy, a trip to the park, or something else they love!
  
  
• Avoid negative reinforcement – It can be super frustrating if your child isn’t cooperating when you’re trying to brush their teeth. But do your best to stay positive, and avoid negative reinforcement like threatening to take away their toys, games, or story time before bed. You want to make brushing a positive thing!
  
  
• Involve them in picking dental products – There are tons of toothbrushes, toothpastes, and other dental products designed just for kids with Marvel characters, Disney princesses, and other themes that little ones love. Letting your kid choose their own dental products can make them feel more in control and encourage them to take better care of their teeth.
• Get your pediatric dentist involved – If you’re having a lot of trouble getting your kids to brush or cooperate while you brush their teeth, their pediatric dentist may have additional tips and methods that you can use to make teeth brushing less of a struggle.

Come To SuperKids Pediatric Dentistry For All Ages Care

At SuperKids Pediatric Dentistry, we offer child-friendly teeth cleanings, oral exams, tips on how to help your kids clean their teeth, and all of the other services your little one needs for a healthy, happy smile. And with five offices throughout the Washington, DC metro area, expert care for your child may be closer than you think! 

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If you’re ready to see the SuperKids difference for yourself, just contact us online. Whether you’re in Rockville, Potomac, Silver Springs, Alexandria, or Sterling, expert pediatric dental care is just a click or a call away.

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