Preventative Dentistry

Great Hygiene Starts with Regular Dental Visits

At Treehouse Dental Care, we know that good oral hygiene and dental care habits established in childhood are the foundation for growing healthy smiles. We offer children pediatric dental services that meet their specific needs.

The dentists and team at Treehouse Dental Care work with your child to develop the skills they need to care for their own teeth because we know that prevention at-home is just as important as visiting the dentist on a regular basis. By preventing problems from ever occurring, you can avoid complex dental procedures and even surgery for kids.

Infant Exams

The arrival of your infants first teeth should be celebrated! It is recommended by the Canadian Academy of Pediatric Dentistry that infants have their first dental visit by the age of 1 or within 6 months of the child’s first tooth eruption. Tooth decay can begin as baby teeth appear therefore regular check-ups are important and help your child adopt healthy dental practices early.

Delaying their first visit can have serious consequences such as tooth aches, infections, surgery, loss of sleep, nutrition and behaviour problems. This can negatively affect the child’s self esteem and their ability to communicate and socialize.

During the first visit, we will:

Ensure everything in the mouth is developing normally
Educate you on how to care and maintain healthy teeth
Discuss nutrition, pacifier use, or thumb sucking
Answer any questions that you may have

Checkups & Cleaning

At Treehouse Dental Care, we know introducing your child to proper dental hygiene at an early age is imperative when it comes to developing the habits for lifelong oral health.

Along with regular, at-home maintenance of brushing and flossing your teeth, our dentists recommend that our patients visit their pediatric dentist once every six months as routine cleanings ensure their teeth and gums are healthy and help prevent and combat tooth decay.

Your child’s appointment may involve:

Checking the health of mouth, gums and teeth
Removing any plaque or tarter from teeth
Polishing the teeth
Applying flouride
Taking X-Rays to look for any cavities between the teeth
Dental care education

Dental X-Rays

Dental X-rays are not only taken to look for cavities. They help to diagnose and treat any other dental conditions that cannot be detected during an exam such as erupting teeth, bone disease or plan future orthodontic treatment.

The frequency of X-rays will be recommended based on your child’s oral health as their mouths grow rapidly and their teeth are more susceptible to tooth decay than adults.

At Treehouse we take every precaution to minimize your child’s exposure to radiation. With safeguards such as lead aprons and thyroid collars their exposure is extremely low.

Flouride Treatments

Fluoride is an important treatment to help strengthen your child’s tooth enamel and strengthen the weakened areas of the tooth. It also helps to fight bacteria that can cause cavities, help to prevent tooth decay, or slow its progression but it cannot guarantee total cavity prevention.

When fluoride is combined with good oral hygiene and a healthy diet, the risk for decay is further reduced.

Sealants

Around the ages of 6 and 12, your child’s permanent molars will begin erupting. Sealants are a great alternative to help fight tooth decay by discouraging bacteria growth in areas of the mouth that tend to be difficult to reach with brushing.

The process is quick and painless. The dentist will clean and dry the back molars and apply a special gel or liquid to help make the surface rough so that the sealant can bond to the tooth. The sealant is then applied with a brush to the chewing surface of each molar. It covers the grooves and pits where many cavities are formed. Right after the appointment regular activities such as playing, drinking or eating can resume.

Mouth Guards

Jaw clenching or grinding, also known as Bruxism, is very common amongst children. It often occurs during deep sleep or when a child is under stress. The good news is that most children outgrow it however it is important to follow up with your Dentist because in some cases children may grind because their teeth are not aligned properly, they are having nightmares, or it can be caused by medication.

Some cases of bruxism can lead to earaches, headaches, lack of sleep, chipped teeth or worn-down tooth enamel. If you think your child is grinding or clenching their teeth, book a dental checkup so their teeth can be examined and develop an effective treatment plan.

Sports mouth guards are used to protect your child’s primary and adult teeth from damage due to high impact from sports. In sports such as hockey, it is mandatory that all children have a mouthguard in order to play however we also strongly recommend your child wears a mouthguard if they are in other high contact sports like basketball, football, baseball, and soccer.

The most common dental injuries in sports are:

Loss of tooth
Tooth crack or fracture
Tooth displacement

If your child experiences any trauma to one of their teeth, it is best to call your Dentist right away for advice on the best possible treatment and next steps.

At Home Dental Education for Parents with Small Children

While regular visits to the dentist are important for you children’s oral health, their smiles won’t stay healthy for long without thorough, consistent at-home dental care. At-home dental care is just as important as visiting the dentist on a regular basis. Even before teeth erupt in a child’s mouth, the gums should be gently washed each day.

Twice-daily brushing should begin as soon as the teeth break through the gums, although the teeth may initially be cleansed using water, rather than toothpaste.

As the child gets older, it is safe to begin using children’s toothpaste as recommended by the child’s dental provider, usually around 2 years of age.

Dental Health and Your Kid's Diet

Maintaining a healthy diet for your child is important for their oral and overall health. There is no denying that sugar is a favourite for kids to consume. However, sugar is the main cause of dental decay when there is bacteria present.

More significant than the amount of sugar you eat is the frequency of consumption. Probably the worst thing you can do to your teeth is to drink a sugary beverage such as a soda and have a sip every few minutes over a long period of time; the same is true for snacking. It is recommended that if you want to have a snack, soda or juice, it is best to have it after you eat your food, as a form of dessert or have it in one sitting.

Eating or drinking something sweet over an extended period of time creates a constant supply of sugar for bacteria that causes tooth decay! It is important to be aware of all the sources of sugar that are out there. It is not just everything that is sweet, but anything that can turn to sugar like pieces of bread. Cutting down your sugar intake is good for cavity prevention, as well as your general health.

Preventative Dentistry

Infant Exams

Checkups & Cleaning

Dental X-Rays

Flouride Treatments

Sealants

Mouth Guards

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