Just because you feel strongly about taking care of your child’s teeth and gums does not mean you’re fully educated regarding best preventive care methods. The bad news is that if you miss an essential aspect of prevention, consequences may include problems like gingivitis or cavity development. The good news is that by becoming fully informed (which is extremely easy to do), you will know the necessary steps to follow, so you child achieves a clean, healthy grin. Wondering if you’re a preventive master or if you need a little bit more knowledge? Quiz yourself to discover that answer!
Preventive Care Quiz: True or False?
- True or False: It is important to schedule your child’s preventive care visit at least once a year, so we can keep up with cleanings and checkups.
- True or False: We suggest dental cleanings for children because they do not usually do a very good job of cleaning their teeth.
- True or False: We suggest dental sealants for children because as they learn to clean their smiles, it’s easy to miss back, hard-to-reach tooth surfaces.
- False. Once a year is inadequate. For the most part, we suggest you bring your child in to see us once every six months.
- False. Whether your child has mastered his or her dental skills yet does not influence your need to schedule a twice-annual preventive care visit. Even with exceptional dental hygiene habits, your child’s smile will still retain some amount of plaque and tartar that only we can remove (and that may lead to cavities and gum disease).
- True. The chewing surfaces of back teeth are filled with nooks and crannies in which bacteria and bits of food can become trapped (or hide). Even an adult may have difficulty reaching and thoroughly cleaning these teeth – placing sealants as a preventive care measure can offer effective protection against tooth decay.