When you have children, you take them to the pediatrician on a regular basis. Were you aware that regular pediatric dentist visits are equally as important? Your child should have their first pediatric dental exam as soon as their teeth begin to emerge. Pediatric dental care should then continue on a regular basis as specified by your childs first dentist.
Approximately 1 in 5 children within the United States don’t receive dental care. As a result, over 40% of these children have cavities once they begin kindergarten. The National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research found that 42% of children between the ages of 2 to 11 have cavities in their primary, or “baby,” teeth. Furthermore, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention issued a report that showed 19% of children between the ages of 2 to 19 have cavities that have remained untreated.
When children have poor oral health, they are also 3 times more likely to miss school due to experiencing dental pain. Furthermore, the Center for Health and Health Care in Schools reports that every year, children miss out on 51 million school instruction hours due to illnesses caused by dental issues. This underlines the importance of receiving pediatric dental services on a regular basis.
As previously stated, you should take your child to a pediatric dentist, or dentist for kids, as soon as their teeth become visible. After that, pediatric dentists recommend that children should begin having regular dental check-ups when they are 1 years old.
When your baby only has a few teeth, their dentist will probably recommend that you use a washcloth to clean them. After more teeth have emerged, you can use a toothbrush made specifically for young children. It’s also important to ask your dentist for toothpaste recommendations. Unless your dentist recommends fluoride toothpaste, it’s recommended that children under 2 not use it.
As your children develop their entire first set of teeth, it’s important to emphasize good oral hygiene. This includes brushing after every meal, including snacks. They should also learn how to floss so that they can remove food particles from between their teeth. It’s also a good practice to change their toothbrush every 3 months or so, unless your pediatric dentist recommends you do so more often.
When you teach your children good oral hygiene, they will eventually learn how to do it on their own. If their primary teeth are damaged, serious issues may develop in the future. Since these can potentially affect your child’s permanent teeth, it’s important to take them in at the first sign of decay or if they are experiencing pain.
Since good oral hygiene is integral to maintaining a child’s health and well-being, be sure to seek out pediatric dental services on a regular basis. Since you take them to the pediatrician on a regular basis, add regular pediatric dental services to the top of your to-do list as well.