Preventive dental care Germantown, MD
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Preventive dental care
Their oral health matter
Preventive dental care is important throughout life, especially at a young age. By practicing good oral hygiene at home and scheduling regular checkups with the dentist, your child can help keep their smile bright and healthy for many years to come.
Check-ups & Cleanings
Routine checkups and cleanings should start from an early age. During these first visits, we will carefully count your child’s existing teeth, provide a gentle cleaning, and perform an examination so that our doctors can ensure there are no developmental problems that need attention.
As your child grows, our approach grows with them. We will begin to provide other preventive services that can help strengthen their smiles against the ongoing threat of decay. We will treat your child until they reach the age of 18, and by then, we hope to have instilled good oral health habits and techniques that will last their lifetime!
Fluoride Treatments
Fluoride is a mineral that helps prevent tooth decay. It can be applied on teeth. It can be found in the water supply or taken as a supplement (called systemic fluoride). It strengthens tooth enamel and reduces the harmful effects of plaque. Fluoride makes the whole tooth more resistant to decay. It helps with remineralization, which helps repair early decay.
The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry advises children between the ages of 6 months and 16 years have some form of fluoride every day. If your child’s main source of tap water is not fluoridated, your child’s healthcare provider or dentist may prescribe fluoride supplements.
Office Hours:
Mon:
9:00am – 5:00pm
Tue:
9:00am – 5:00pm
Wed:
9:00am – 5:00pm
Thu:
9:00am – 5:00pm
Fri:
Emergencies only
Sat:
Closed
Sun:
Closed
Any Question?
Oral Screenings
Oral cancer is, thankfully, rare in children, but cases can and do happen. Our team regularly performs oral cancer screenings during pediatric checkups. Our goal is to identify cancerous cells as early on to make recovery that much simpler and more successful in the long run.
Common, symptoms that parents should also be aware of include the following:
- Strange red or white spots on the oral tissues
- Thickened areas of skin, lumps, or crusts within the mouth
- Excessive numbness or pain inside the mouth or on the lips
- Oral sores that are healing too slowly or constantly bleeding
Night Guards for Bruxism
Does your child regularly complain about painful headaches? Do their teeth seem strangely damaged or worn? Bruxism (also known as teeth grinding) could be the culprit, which is likely to occur while your child is sleeping and unaware.
Thankfully, there’s an easy solution available at Germantownbigsmiles® Our doctors will design a personalized night guard that can be worn comfortably through the night, protecting their precious smile from dangerous grinding.
Mouth guards help prevent more wear, or attrition, of your child’s smile. Most children do eventually outgrow bruxism. You can learn more and set up a consultation at Germantownbigsmiles®.
Sports Guards
Kids who take part in athletic activities — whether they’re playing on organized sports teams, bicycling, or just kicking a ball around — gain a host of well-documented health benefits.
Yet inevitably, along with all the fun, the sense of achievement, and the character-building features of athletics, the possibility of injury exists. Does this mean your kids shouldn’t play sports? Of course not! But it makes sense to learn about the risks involved and to take appropriate precautions.
