Most Santa Maria parents know children’s oral health basics: brush regularly, reduce sugar intake, limit snacking, and get adequate amounts of calcium and Vitamin D. King Dental Group recommends three additional tools for preventing cavities in toddlers and children.
Sealants
Fluoride supplements
Oral rinses
Resin dental sealants are applied by your Santa Barbara dentist. The material bonds to the chewing surfaces of the back teeth, protecting the pits and fissures from decay. Some California dental insurance providers cover dental sealants, so check with your provider if you are considering them.
Fluoride supplements help strengthen still-forming teeth prior to eruption. You can get a prescription from your Santa Maria pediatrician or talk to us at King Dental Group in Santa Barbara. There is one caveat, however: if you have fluoridated water, your pediatrician may advise against taking additional fluoride in supplement form.
If your child is taking fluoride supplements, is an oral rinse redundant? Actually, no. Fluoride supplements help strengthen teeth that are still forming, but a fluoride rinse helps teeth that have already come in. Oral rinses containing fluoride can be purchased at any Goleta, Montecito, or Santa Maria grocery store. Make sure you buy one specifically formulated for children. Products labeled as a mouthwash are usually intended only for breath-freshening and may not contain fluoride.
I recommend Santa Maria children use an oral rinse after they brush and floss at night. They are most effective when they are the last substance on teeth before kids go to bed.
At King Dental Group, we believe that with proper preventative dentistry, Santa Barbara area kids can enjoy healthy teeth for life.
Dr. Jon King
King Dental Group
1919 State St Ste 205
Santa Barbara, California
805-687-1548
https://www.kingdentalgroup.com/meet-dr-jon-king/
