It’s important to many parents that their children have smiles that look great and are healthy. In fact, it’s important to children as well even though they may not yet know how to articulate this. Usually a smile that is flawed can be the source of much self-consciousness for a child, and it’s important that they receive good dental care early on in life so that they can develop goo dental habits and maintain a great smile later in life.

NYC pediatric dentist Dr. Barry L. Jacobson has helped improve the beauty and the health of many smiles, both in children and in adults. One issue that sometimes comes up is whether or not children should undergo certain cosmetic dentistry procedures. Now, this is sort of taken at a case by case basis since certain patients have certain needs that are unique. One treatment in particular that many parents wonder about is teeth whitening for their child. We’d like to tackle this issue generally right now

The teeth whitening procedure essentially involves the application of a bleaching agent to the teeth and the use of a special laser light to activate the bleaching properties of the whitening solution. It’s a generally quick procedure, quite safe, and the only side effect that people experience is tooth sensitivity for a day or two.

Now, while it is safe and effective and can be performed on children, it’s more important that parents prevent the need for teeth whitening treatment rather than rely on it for their children. For one, developing good dental habits makes more sense than having to rely on cosmetic dental care. Another reason for this is that many young children haven’t yet had their permanent teeth come in, and it may be worthwhile considering whitening procedures when they’re older if dental stains persist.

Essentially what we’re getting at is that teeth whitening is rarely something we wish to perform on young children, but it’s something that may be a viable option for teenagers. At that point, if a teen has all of his or her own permanent teeth and would like brighter smile, this option makes more sense. In fact, for some issues of discoloration and smile design, NYC porcelain veneers may be a viable option for teens. (And of course, adults are fine candidates for various cosmetic procedures.)

Now, as parents, there is plenty that you can do for your child in order prevent stains and maintain their overall health. First of all, be sure that your child brushes their teeth at least twice a day--morning and night. If you can, try to encourage your child to brush his or her teeth after every meal. Also try to stress the importance of flossing and why it should be done daily.

If you would like more information about dental care concerns for children, teens, and adults, be sure to contact our NYC pediatric dentistry, family dentistry, and cosmetic dentistry centers today.