How Regular Dental Cleaning Keeps Your Kids Healthy During Flu Season

Unfortunately, cold and flu season comes around every year like clockwork. Every year we try to make sure our kids don’t get sick. We do this by making sure they get enough vitamin C, making sure they wash their hands and giving them the flu shot. What if I told you there was another way we can keep them healthy during the flu season?

How you may ask? By having your regular cleaning at the dentist!

A recent study at Yale University showed having poor oral hygiene may be a risk factor for developing pneumonia. As you’re already well aware, colds and flu can lead to pneumonia. Nigel Carter, the chief executive of the British Dental Health Foundation, noted that people are more likely to get colds and flu during the cooler winter months because of the drop in temperature.

With that said, having your kids get regular dental cleaning may prevent the bacteria in the mouth that has been linked to pneumonia and have them avoid that nasty disease during cold/flu season.

If your kids are over six months old, they should be going to the dentist. We may not realize that even though the “milk teeth” are going to eventually come out, they still need the same care as adult teeth that would soon emerge. That’s because caring for the “milk teeth” will help with speech development, comfortable chewing as well as healthy gums. Regular cleaning for kids looks just like regular cleanings for your teeth, twice a year or in other words every six months.

We do our best as parents, teaching proper brushing techniques, and flossing daily. These are great practices for ensuring our children maintain good oral hygiene. Unfortunately, it’s not enough. Professional dental cleaning is still needed to prevent a myriad of other problems such as cavities, gum disease, and preventing plaque build-up, among other dental problems.

We at Luxe Dental Arts know kids may fear or hate going to the dentist. As a parent myself, I employ a caring approach and use very gentle hands. They will love our staff here because we understand children and want them to have the best experience and healthy teeth and gums.

With over 10 years of experience under her belt, Dr. Karishma Sheth brings to you dentistry with gentle hands and a very caring approach. Attention to detail and high-quality dentistry are her utmost priority in ensuring her patients receive the care they deserve.

Dr. Sheth earned her bachelor’s degree from The University of Arizona, Tucson and her dental degree from the University of California, San Francisco. Dr. Sheth furthered her education by completing a residency at the University of Texas, Houston.

Since then, she is a strong proponent of staying on the forefront of advances in dentistry. As a result, she has over 1000 hours in post-graduate advanced continuing education and has earned her fellowship with the Academy of General Dentistry. She has also earned her fellowship with the prestigious International Congress of Oral Implantologists.

Quick weekend safari trips were no big trek for Dr. Sheth as she was born and raised in Nairobi, Kenya! She is multilingual and fluent in 4 languages. Dr. Sheth is a proud mother of two girls and when she is not hard at work she loves to spend time with her husband and their daughters, making memories and living each moment to the fullest.