Preventive Dental Care

What is Preventive Dental Care

Preventive dental care includes seeing a dentist regularly and practicing good dental care (oral hygiene) at home. These actions can help to prevent cavities and other tooth problems, root canal problems, gum disease (gingivitis), and tooth loss.

Regular dental exams may also help your health care provider to diagnose other medical problems. Many diseases, including mouth cancers, have early signs that can be found during a preventive dental care visit.

What can I expect during my dental visits?

Many adults see their dentist one or two times each year for oral exams and cleanings. Talk with your dentist about the best preventive dental care schedule for you. At your visit, your dentist may ask you about:

  • Your overall health and diet.
  • Any new symptoms, such as:
    • Bleeding gums.
    • Mouth, tooth, or jaw pain.

Your dentist will do a mouth (oral) exam to check for:

  • Cavities.
  • Gingivitis or other problems.
  • Signs of cancer.
  • Neck swelling or lumps.
  • Abnormal jaw movement or pain in the jaw joint.

You may also have:

  • Dental X-rays.
  • Your teeth cleaned.

If you have an early problem, like a cavity, your dentist will schedule time for you to get treatment. If you have a tooth root problem, gum disease, or a sign of another disease, your dentist may send you to see another health care provider for care.

How can I care for my teeth at home?

  • Brush with an approved fluoride toothpaste every morning and night. If possible, brush within 10 minutes after every meal.
  • Floss one time every day.
  • Periodically check your teeth for white or brown spots after brushing. These may be signs of cavities.
  • Check your gums for swelling or bleeding. These may be signs of gum disease, such as gingivitis or periodontitis.
  • Make sure your diet includes plenty of fruits, vegetables, milk and dairy products, whole grains, and proteins. Do not eat a lot of starchy foods or foods with added sugar. Talk with your health care provider if you have questions about following a healthy diet.
  • Avoid sodas, sugary snacks, and sticky candies.
  • Do not smoke.
  • Do not get mouth piercings.
  • If you have tooth or gum pain, gargle with a salt-water mixture 3–4 times per day or as needed. To make a salt-water mixture, completely dissolve ½-1 tsp of salt in 1 cup of warm water.
  • Take over-the counter and prescription medicines only as told by your dentist.
  • If you have a permanent tooth knocked out:
    • Find the tooth.
    • Pick it up by the top (crown) with a tissue or gauze.
    • Wash the tooth for no more than 10 seconds under cold, running water.
    • Try to put the tooth back into the gum socket.
    • Put the tooth in a glass of milk if you cannot get it back in place.
    • Go to your dentist right away. Take the tooth with you.

When should I seek medical care?

Call your dentist if you have:

  • Gum, tooth, or jaw pain.
  • Red, swollen, or bleeding gums.
  • A tooth or teeth that are very sensitive to hot or cold.
  • Very bad breath.
  • A problem with a filling, crown, implant, or denture.
  • A broken or loose tooth.
  • A growth or sore in your mouth that is not going away.

Preventive Dental Care (0–2 Years)

Preventive dental care is any dental-related procedure or treatment that can prevent dental or other health problems in the future. Preventive dental care for children begins at birth and continues for a lifetime. It is important to help your child begin practicing good dental care (oral hygiene) at an early age. Caring for your child’s teeth plays a big part in his or her overall health.

How are my child’s teeth developing?

Children are born with 20 baby (primary) teeth. Children also have tooth buds of adult (permanent) teeth underneath their gums. The primary teeth save space for the permanent teeth that will come in later. Primary teeth are important for chewing and speech development.

The first primary teeth usually come in (erupt) through the gums when your child is about 6 months of age. The front four teeth are usually the first to erupt. Sometimes, children do not get their first tooth until 12 months of age.

When should I schedule my child’s first appointment?

Schedule your child’s first dentist appointment as soon as the first tooth erupts but no later than 12 months of age. If your general dentist does not treat children, ask your child’s pediatrician to recommend a pediatric dentist. Pediatric dentists have extra training in children’s oral health.

What can I expect at my child’s dental visits?

Your child’s dentist will ask you about:

  • Your child’s overall health and diet.
  • Whether your child was breastfed or bottle-fed, or if he or she uses a sippy cup.
  • Whether your child uses a pacifier or is a thumb-sucker.

Your child’s dentist will also talk with you about:

  • A mineral that keeps teeth healthy (fluoride). The dentist may recommend a fluoride supplement if your drinking water is not treated with fluoride (fluoridated water).
  • How to care for your child’s teeth and gums at home.
  • Healthy eating habits for healthy teeth.

The dentist will do a mouth (oral) exam to check for:

  • Signs that your child’s teeth are not erupting properly.
  • Tooth decay.
  • Jaw or other tooth problems.
  • Gum disease.

Your child may also have:

  • Dental X-rays.
  • Treatment with fluoride coating to prevent cavities.

Your child’s dentist will recommend when your child should return for another dental care visit. This is usually in six months.

How should I care for my child’s teeth and gums at home?

Caring for your child’s teeth and gums at home starts at birth. Even before your child has teeth, clean your child’s gums with a clean, moist washcloth in the morning and at bedtime. As soon as your child has teeth, brush them with a small, soft-bristled toothbrush in the morning and at night. Use a tiny amount (about the size of a grain of rice) of fluoride toothpaste or as told by your child’s dentist. If your child has two or more teeth that touch each other, floss between the teeth every day.

General instructions

  • Do not breastfeed or bottle-feed your baby to sleep.
  • Do not let your baby fall asleep with a bottle or sippy cup that contains anything but water.
  • Do not use products that contain benzocaine (including numbing gels) to treat teething or mouth pain in children who are younger than 2 years. These products may cause a rare but serious blood condition.
  • When your baby starts eating solid food, talk with your child’s pediatrician about what to feed your baby. Usually, this will include fruits, vegetables, milk and other dairy products, whole grains, and proteins. Avoid giving your baby starchy foods and added sugar.
  • If your baby has teething pain, gently rub his or her gums with a clean finger, a small cool spoon, or a moist gauze pad. Your child’s dentist or pediatrician may recommend a pacifier, a teething ring, or a medicine to relieve pain.

When should I seek medical care?

  • Call your child’s dentist or pediatrician if your child:
    • Has a toothache or painful gums.
    • Has a fever along with a swollen face or gums.
    • Is fussy and not feeding well.

Preventive Dental Care (3–6 Years)

Preventive dental care is any dental-related procedure or treatment that can prevent dental or other health problems in the future. Preventive dental care for children begins at birth and continues for a lifetime. It is important to help your child begin practicing good dental care (oral hygiene) at an early age. Caring for your child’s teeth plays a big part in his or her overall health. Preventive dental care from 3–6 years of age is important to maintain the health of all baby (primary) teeth to prevent future problems in the adult (permanent) teeth.

How are my child’s teeth developing?

Children are born with 20 primary teeth. Children also have tooth buds of permanent teeth underneath their gums. The primary teeth save space for the permanent teeth that will come in later. Primary teeth are important for chewing and your child’s speech development.

Usually, children lose their first baby tooth at about 6 years of age. This is often a front tooth (incisor). Permanent teeth at the back of the jaw (molars) may also start to come in (erupt) around this time. These are called six-year molars.

What can I expect at my child’s dental visits?

Schedule an appointment for your child to see a dentist about every six months for preventive dental care. If your general dentist does not treat children, ask your child’s pediatrician to recommend a pediatric dentist. Pediatric dentists have extra training in children’s oral health.

Your child’s dentist will ask you about:

  • Your child’s overall health and diet.
  • Your child’s speech and language development.
  • Whether your child uses a pacifier or is a thumb-sucker.
  • Whether your child grinds his or her teeth.

Your child’s dentist will also talk with you about:

  • A mineral that keeps teeth healthy (fluoride). The dentist may recommend a fluoride supplement if your drinking water is not treated with fluoride (fluoridated water).
  • How to care for your child’s teeth and gums at home.
  • Healthy eating habits for healthy teeth.
  • Using a mouthguard for sports.

The dentist will do a mouth (oral) exam to check for:

  • Signs that your child’s teeth are not erupting properly.
  • Tooth decay.
  • Jaw or other tooth problems.
  • Gum disease.
  • Signs of teeth grinding.
  • Pits or grooves in your child’s teeth.
  • Discolored teeth.

Your child may also have:

  • Dental X-rays.
  • Treatment with fluoride coating to prevent cavities.
  • Pits or grooves coated with a special type of plastic (dental sealant). This greatly reduces the risk for cavities.
  • His or her teeth cleaned.
  • Cavities filled.
  • Discussion about making a custom mouthguard if he or she participates in sports.

Your child’s dentist may schedule an appointment for your child to return in six months for another dental care visit.

How should I care for my child’s teeth at home?

Continue to care for your child’s teeth every day. Watch and help your child brush and floss.

  • Make sure your child brushes his or her teeth with a child-sized, soft-bristled toothbrush every morning and night. Use a pea-sized amount of fluoride toothpaste.
  • Make sure your child spits out the toothpaste after brushing.
  • Floss your child’s teeth one time every day.
  • Check your child’s teeth for any white or brown spots after brushing. These may be signs of cavities.
  • Make sure your child’s diet includes lots of fruits, vegetables, milk and other dairy products, whole grains, and proteins. Do not give your child a lot of starchy foods and added sugar. Talk with your child’s health care provider if you have questions about which foods and drinks to give to your child.
  • Avoid giving sodas, sugary snacks, and sticky candies to your child.
  • Let your child’s pediatrician or dentist know if your child is still sucking his or her thumb after 3 years of age.
  • If your child has teething pain, gently rub his or her gums with a clean finger, a small cool spoon, or a moist gauze pad. Your child’s dentist or pediatrician may recommend giving over-the-counter medicine to relieve pain.

When should I seek medical care?

Call the dentist or pediatrician if your child:

  • Has a toothache or painful gums.
  • Has a fever along with a swollen face or gums.
  • Has a mouth injury.
  • Has a loose permanent tooth.
  • Has lost a permanent tooth.

Preventive Dental Care 7–12 Years

Preventive dental care is any dental-related procedure or treatment that can prevent dental or other health problems in the future. Preventive dental care for children begins at birth and continues for a lifetime. It is important to help your child begin practicing good dental care (oral hygiene) at an early age. At 7‒12 of age, children begin to get their adult (permanent) teeth. These teeth need to last a lifetime.

How are my child’s teeth developing?

From 7–12 years of age, your child’s baby (primary) teeth are being replaced by permanent teeth. The front teeth (incisors) are usually the first teeth to fall out. The first incisor usually falls out by 6 or 7 years of age. Permanent teeth at the back of the jaw (molars) may also start to come in (erupt) around this time. These are called six-year molars.

Permanent teeth that do not erupt properly can affect the shape of your child’s face. Checking that the permanent teeth come in straight and at the right time is an important part of preventive dentistry at this age. By age 12, all permanent incisors and many permanent molars are often in place.

What can I expect at my child’s dental visits?

Schedule an appointment for your child to see a dentist about every six months for preventive dental care. If your general dentist does not treat children, ask your child’s pediatrician to recommend a pediatric dentist. Pediatric dentists have extra training in children’s oral health.

Your child’s dentist will ask you about:

  • Your child’s overall health and diet.
  • Your child’s speech and language development.
  • Whether your child lost any primary teeth early due to an injury. This can cause permanent teeth to come in crooked.
  • Whether your child grinds his or her teeth.

Your child’s dentist will also talk with you about:

  • A mineral that keeps teeth healthy (fluoride). The dentist may recommend a fluoride supplement if your drinking water is not treated with fluoride (fluoridated water).
  • How to care for your child’s teeth and gums at home.
  • Healthy eating habits for healthy teeth.
  • Using a mouthguard for sports.
  • Teaching your child about the dangers of smoking and using chewing tobacco.

The dentist will do a mouth (oral) exam to check for:

  • Signs that your child’s teeth are not erupting properly.
  • Tooth decay.
  • Jaw or other tooth problems.
  • Gum disease.
  • Signs of teeth grinding.
  • Pits or grooves in your child’s teeth.
  • Discolored teeth.

Your child may also have:

  • Dental X-rays.
  • Treatment with fluoride coating to prevent cavities.
  • Pits or grooves coated with a special type of plastic (dental sealant). This greatly reduces the risk for cavities.
  • His or her teeth cleaned.
  • Cavities filled.
  • Discussion about the need for braces or surgical treatment for possible misalignment of the teeth.
  • Discussion about making a custom mouthguard if he or she participates in sports.

Your child’s dentist may schedule an appointment for your child to return in six months for another preventive dental care visit.

How should I care for my child’s teeth at home?

  • Make sure your child brushes his or her teeth with an appropriate-sized, soft-bristled toothbrush every morning and night.
  • Remind your child to spit out the toothpaste after brushing.
  • Teach your child how to floss between teeth. Floss for your child or have your child floss one time every day.
  • Check your child’s teeth for any white or brown spots after brushing. These may be signs of cavities.
  • Make sure your child’s diet includes lots of fruits, vegetables, milk and other dairy products, whole grains, and proteins. Do not give your child a lot of starchy foods and added sugar. Talk with your child’s health care provider if you have questions about which foods and drinks to give to your child.
  • Encourage your child to avoid sodas, sugary snacks, and sticky candies.
  • If your child has pain from permanent teeth erupting, your child’s dentist or pediatrician may recommend giving over-the-counter medicine to relieve pain.
  • If your child has a permanent tooth knocked out:
    • Find the tooth.
    • Pick it up by the top (crown) with a tissue or gauze.
    • Wash it for no more than 10 seconds under cold, running water.
    • Make sure it is a permanent tooth. Try to put the tooth back into the gum socket. Baby teeth should not be placed back into the gum socket.
    • Put the permanent tooth in a glass of milk if you cannot get it back in place.
    • Go to your child’s dentist right away. Take the tooth with you.

When should I seek medical care?

Call the dentist or pediatrician if your child:

  • Has a toothache or painful gums.
  • Has a fever along with a swollen face or gums.
  • Has a mouth injury.
  • Has a loose permanent tooth.
  • Has lost a permanent tooth.

Preventive Dental Care 13–17 Years

Preventive dental care is any dental-related procedure or treatment that can prevent dental or other health problems in the future. Preventive dental care for children begins at birth and continues for a lifetime. It is important to help your child begin practicing good dental care (oral hygiene) at an early age.

During the teen years, children are at a risk for dental problems, such as cavities and gum disease (gingivitis), especially if they are wearing braces (orthodontic treatment). Preventive dental care during this time can help to prevent these and other major dental problems.

How are my child’s teeth developing?

By 13 years of age, your child should have all of his or her adult (permanent) teeth except the wisdom teeth (third molars). These might not come in (erupt) until age 21 or later. Permanent teeth that have not erupted properly may affect the shape of your child’s jaw and face. Having permanent teeth that are crowded together or have come in crooked can increase the risk for cavities, gum disease, and tooth loss.

What can I expect at my child’s dental visits?

Schedule an appointment for your child to see a dentist about every six months for preventive dental care.

Your child’s dentist will ask you about:

  • Your child’s overall health and diet.
  • Any mouth pain or trouble with chewing.
  • Any bleeding from the gums.

Your child’s dentist may also talk with you about:

  • A mineral that keeps teeth healthy (fluoride). The dentist may recommend a fluoride supplement if your drinking water is not treated with fluoride (fluoridated water).
  • The importance of brushing and flossing regularly.
  • Healthy eating habits for healthy teeth.
  • Using a mouthguard for sports.
  • The dangers of smoking and using chewing tobacco.
  • The risks of mouth piercings. These include infections and gingivitis.
  • The need to get braces to straighten teeth (orthodontic care).

The dentist will do a mouth (oral) exam to check for:

  • Signs that your child’s teeth are not erupting properly.
  • Tooth decay.
  • Jaw or other tooth problems.
  • Gum disease.
  • Signs of teeth grinding.
  • Pits or grooves in your child’s teeth.
  • Discolored teeth.
  • Enamel erosion.

Your child may also have:

  • Dental X-rays.
  • Treatment with fluoride coating to prevent cavities.
  • Pits or grooves coated with a special type of plastic (dental sealant). This greatly reduces the risk for cavities.
  • His or her teeth cleaned.
  • Cavities filled.
  • Discussion about making a custom mouthguard if he or she participates in sports.
  • Discussion about the need for braces or surgical treatment for possible misalignment of the teeth.
  • His or her wisdom teeth removed if they are not erupting (are impacted) or are erupting improperly.

If your child is still seeing a pediatric dentist, the pediatric dentist will make a referral to an adult dentist to continue your child’s dental care. Your child’s dentist may schedule an appointment for your child to return in six months for another preventive dental care visit.

How can my child care for his or her teeth at home?

Support your child in following these instructions:

  • Brush with an approved fluoride toothpaste every morning and night. If possible, brush within 10 minutes after every meal.
  • Floss one time every day.
  • Check teeth for any white or brown spots after brushing. These may be signs of cavities.
  • Check gums for swelling or bleeding. These may be signs of gingivitis.
  • Eat fruits, vegetables, milk and other dairy products, whole grains, and proteins. Do not eat a lot of starchy foods and added sugar. Talk with the health care provider if there are questions about following a healthy diet.
  • Avoid sodas, sugary snacks, and sticky candies.
  • Do not smoke.
  • Do not get mouth piercings.
  • If there is pain from permanent teeth erupting, rinse the mouth thoroughly after eating. Lasting (persistent) pain may be a sign of infection of the gums that surround the erupting wisdom teeth.
  • If a permanent tooth is knocked out:
    • Find the tooth.
    • Pick it up by the top (crown) with a tissue or gauze.
    • Wash it for no more than 10 seconds under cold, running water.
    • Make sure it is a permanent tooth. Try to put the tooth back into the gum socket.
    • Put the permanent tooth in a glass of milk if you cannot get it back in place.
    • Go to your child’s dentist right away. Take the tooth with you.

When should I seek medical care?

Call the dentist if your child:

  • Has a toothache.
  • Has swollen, bleeding, or painful gums.
  • Has a fever along with a swollen face or gums.
  • Has a mouth injury.
  • Has a loose permanent tooth.
  • Has lost a permanent tooth.

Seek Additional Information

American Dental Association: www.ada.org

American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry: www.aapd.org

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