Dental Hygiene Cleanings

After your child turns one, twice-yearly dental hygiene exams are essential for maintaining healthy teeth, gums and overall oral health. For children in Chicago, we offer comprehensive dental care during each exam and thorough cleaning, specifically geared towards their needs.

Along with providing a professional cleaning that reaches parts of the mouth your child may miss as they learn to care for their teeth, maintaining regular visits with our team helps foster a lifetime of comfortability with the dentist, straight smiles and good dental habits.

What Happens During a Pediatric Hygiene Exam?

Our dental hygienists are specifically trained to handle the dental needs of children, including helping them feel comfortable, calm and relaxed in the dentist’s chair. Every step will be explained in the language they understand.

We start by cleaning your child’s teeth and mouth with our signature gentle touch. This includes removing any plaque and tartar that has built up on teeth and gums, which helps prevent gum disease and cavities. 

After this, the hygienist will brush, floss and polish your child’s teeth. X-rays may also be included in an exam if your child is over the age of two and due for new ones. Our team may also recommend a fluoride treatment to protect enamel.

While cleaning your child’s mouth, the hygienist also closely examines their teeth, gums, muscles and soft tissues so they can discuss any findings with you, your child and your dentist. We always build time into appointments for you to ask questions about your child’s oral health care and mouth development.

When Should My Child First Come to the Dentist?

According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, the proper schedule for a child’s oral healthcare is:

• First visit to the dentist: After the first baby tooth arrives
• Cleanings and exams: Every six months after a child turns one
• Fluoride treatment: As recommended by our team after a child turns one
• X-rays: Annually after a child turns two
• Sealants: As recommended by our team between the ages of five and 14, as teeth develop and come in

What Can I Do to Care For My Child’s Teeth at Home?

Good dental health requires more than just the twice-yearly standard visits to our office. We advise children to care for their mouths in a variety of ways between appointments, and for their parents to help them develop these good habits.

Educating you and your child about at-home care of teeth and gums are fundamental parts of our exams at Dentistry at Millennium Park. We address any questions you may have about your child’s developing teeth and what you can do to keep them healthy between exams.

No matter their age, we advise patients to brush their teeth twice a day with a soft-bristled toothbrush and fluoride toothpaste. We also recommend using dental floss once a day to prevent gum disease and keep the space between teeth clean, too. 

For each child, we provide a hygiene kit with toothpaste, a toothbrush, floss and more goodies to take home.

Looking for Pediatric Dentists Near You in Chicago?

We’re always welcoming new patients to our practice and love helping children start their oral health journey. To book an appointment with the Dentistry at Millennium Park team today, give us a call during office hours at (312) 750-9000. 

We look forward to seeing your family soon!