Cleaning At Our Office is Real Fun!

At your child’s first visit to our office we will explain all cleaning procedures. Before we actually start, Dr. Carmichael will look inside your childs' mouth to make sure that the teeth are growing properly and the gums are healthy.

One of our dental team members will clean and polish the teeth first. He or she will use tiny dental tools like a tooth scraper, mirror, and special toothbrush. The tooth scraper removes plaque from the teeth. If plaque is not removed from the teeth, it can cause decay, or even a cavity. Plaque is a thin and sticky layer that covers the teeth and contains bacteria that grow on teeth over time.

The next step is brushing and flossing. For the brushing we use special toothbrush and toothpaste. The toothbrush has a small, round tip that moves around to clean the teeth. The toothpaste might taste like toothpaste at home, but it feels almost like sand.

Finally, we floss your child's teeth. We show him or her how to use a piece of waxy string (dental floss) to get in between the teeth and remove food particles that the brush can't reach.