Time For that Back-To-School Dental Check-up in Barcelona

Are you thinking about doing a dental check-up for your children?

Just moved with children to Barcelona?  Or is your family lucky enough to already call Barcelona home?

If you have school-aged children, chances are your days just got a lot busier with the return to childcare, preschool or school.  Your friendly, English-speaking dental team at Turo Park Dental and Medical Center wants to remind you to make time for your children’s teeth during this busy time of year.

Why is your children’s oral health so important to us?

1. You are born with all of the teeth you will ever have.  Who would wish dentures, caps, and implants on their children?
2. Fluoride is a mineral which helps to build strong teeth and prevent cavities. The earlier children are  exposed to fluoride, the less likely they are to have cavities.
3. Regular teeth-brushing, flossing, use of fluoride mouth rinse and dental visits have all been shown to protect teeth from cavities.  The earlier kids get used to doing these teeth-friendly behaviors, the more likely they are to become habits that they will maintain for the rest of their lives.
4.  Untreated cavities can lead to pain, infection and tooth loss.  Children with poor oral health are more likely to have problems speaking, eating, playing and learning.
5. Did you know that your child might be more likely to have cavities if:

• • Family members (older brothers, sisters, or parents) have cavities.
  • They eat and drink a lot of sugary foods and drinks, like soda, especially between meals.
  • They have special health care needs.
  • They wear braces or orthodontics or oral appliances.

Parents can be teachers too:

1. 1. As soon as a child has their first tooth, parents should watch their children brush their teeth at least 2 times a day. Children older than 6 years should use a toothpaste with more than 1000ppm of fluoride. Have your child spit when finished, but not rinse out their mouth. This way the fluoride (which strengthens tooth enamel) stays on the teeth longer.remains in contact with the teeth.
   2. Teach your children how to floss daily (our English-speaking dentists and hygienists love to teach kids flossing technique).
   3. Rinse with a 0.05% fluoride-containing mouthwash at bedtime, without drinking or eating afterwards. Children should not have anything to eat or drink after rinsing to make sure the fluoride can work it’s teeth-strengthening magic overnight.
   4. Encourage your children to choose healthier foods for meals and snacks, like cheese, nuts, or fresh fruit.  Explain how sugar-rich foods such as juices, pastries, sweet desserts, and salty snacks like bread or chips and salty snacks increase their risk for cavities.
   5. Discourage snacking on sugary foods between meals. Your kids might be interested to learn that the number of times a day they eat sugar is worse for their teeth than the total amount of sugar they eat in a day.

Even if your child is too young to go to school, their oral health still matters!

1. For babies and toddlers, remember that bacteria that causes cavities can spread from an adult’s mouth to a child when you share spoons and or clean pacifiers with your mouth.
2. Before your baby has teeth, wash their gums with a washcloth (soaked in water or fluoride mouth rinse. once a day. This can help remove bacteria and also help get them used to the sensation of daily mouth cleaning.
3. Once baby grows teeth, use a smear of fluoride-containing toothpaste on a baby toothbrush 1-2 times daily.  Fluoride toothpaste the size of a pea is recommended for children ages 3 to 6 years old.
4. Remember that your child’s first dental visit should take place after the first tooth appears, but no later than the first birthday. Turó Park Dental Center’s dentists are specially trained to make your child’s first visit to the dentist as easy as can be.

Our English-speaking dentists are always available to answer any questions you have about your family’s oral health.

With Turo Park Medical and Dental Center’s convenient online booking option and child-friendly team of English-speaking dentists working during school-friendly hours.

You will have no trouble finding time in your busy back-to-school schedule to come and see us!

Written by Amy Harris