Children’s dentistry in Loughton
Children’s preventive dentistry emphasises the importance of good oral hygiene and regular dental visits to prevent common dental issues such as tooth decay and gum disease. Effective preventive dentistry combines educating your children on the benefits of good oral hygiene practices with chair side treatments and advice by dental professionals.
At Forest Dental in Loughton, we believe that prevention is the best cure, therefore we urge our patients to bring their children to the dentist early. Ideally, book an appointment with one of our caring dentists as soon as your child’s first tooth erupts, or no later than 12 months of age. This way, we can establish a thorough oral health prevention programme for your child.
Tooth decay prevention
Tooth decay, a common disease among children, is often caused by the interaction of oral bacteria and a diet high in sugars. When broken down by bacteria, sugar produces acids which erode cavities in the teeth. In some cases, cavities on your children’s milk teeth can hinder the normal development of their permanent teeth.
After gently and thoroughly cleaning your child’s teeth, our dentists will remove the decay and fill the cavity, restoring the tooth to a healthy state. Tooth decay can be prevented by daily brushing and flossing, regular dental check-ups and a healthy, balanced diet. We also offer additional treatments to ensure that your child’s teeth will stay healthy for longer.
Our treatments
For children with a high-risk factor for tooth decay, we recommend fluoride application. When applied directly to the teeth in a controlled manner, fluoride re-mineralises the enamel and prevents cavities from developing by making teeth more resistant to acid attacks. Your dentist may also recommend fluoride toothpaste and mouthwash in order to prevent or treat tooth decay in its initial stage.
Our dentists can also seal out decay and help keep your child’s teeth healthier for longer by applying pit and fissure sealants. These are thin composite coatings placed on the chewing surfaces of back permanent teeth to protect against tooth decay. This is because deep pits are shown to accumulate more bacteria and thereby a great risk for tooth decay.
Children who visit the dentist from an early age are more likely to experience less decay, less pain, and a happy and healthy smile.