As parents, you have many responsibilitie to ensure your children develop into healthy individuals. Oral care and dental hygiene are often overlooked aspects of their health.
Taking your kids to a pediatric dentistry clinic for regular dental checkups and cleanings is extremely important for their health, development, and long-term well-being.
A dentist is often a child’s worst nightmare (dental anxiety), and it must be one of your toughest tasks to convince them to go, and sometimes you might even cave.
Here are 5 reasons why your kids should see the dentist regularly so that you ensure they make all their appointments.
1. Prevent Dental Issues
Dental visits allow dentists to spot any signs of tooth decay or cavities early on and treat them before the problem worsens. If left undetected, small cavities can become larger, potentially causing infections, pain, and tooth loss.
It is better to get an issue identified and cured before it worsens, becomes a much heavier burden on your pocket, and is far more painful for your child! Gum disease can develop slowly without any symptoms.
Regular dental exams allow dentists to diagnose and treat gum disease in its initial stages before the gums and underlying bone sustain any permanent damage.
Dentists can determine if your child’s teeth and jaws are developing properly and if any orthodontic treatment may be needed to correct bite or alignment issues. Early orthodontic treatment often yields better results.
2. Maintain Oral Health
Professional dental cleanings remove built-up plaque and tartar that can lead to decay and gum disease if left untreated. Teeth cleanings also help remove surface stains to brighten your child’s smile—dentists thoroughly clean teeth to remove any plaque and tartar buildup.
Experts suggest that if left in place, plaque and tartar can harden into a cement-like material that only dentists can remove.
Dentists can check if your child’s at-home oral care routine is effective and make any recommendations to improve brushing and flossing techniques. They can also suggest alternative products if needed.
3. Monitor Dental Development
Dentists take X-rays to monitor how permanent teeth are developing under primary teeth and if wisdom teeth will emerge properly. They check that teeth are erupting on schedule and for any anomalies.
Dentists carefully examine jaw and bite development to determine if teeth and jaws are aligned properly or if orthodontic treatment may be required to correct an overbite, underbite, or crossbite.
Conditions like crowding, spacing issues, or extra or missing teeth can often be detected early and managed more easily during development. Dentists may use spacers, braces, or other orthodontics to guide teeth into proper alignment.
4. Promote Proper Oral Care
Dentists demonstrate effective brushing and flossing techniques to children to establish good lifetime oral care habits. They teach them to properly care for teeth and gums at home to minimize dental issues.
Dentists also guide good dietary choices and eating habits to support oral health. They help educate children and parents on nutritious foods that benefit teeth versus sugary or starchy foods that may promote decay.
Dentists can recommend quality oral care products, including toothbrushes, toothpaste, mouthwashes, and dental flosses, that are most suitable and age-appropriate for children based on their needs and risk factors.
5. Establish a Dental Routine
Taking kids to regular dental checkups from an early age helps establish positive experiences and associations with the dentist and can help alleviate anxieties about future visits.
The general fear children have from dentists might go away and help them establish a proper relationship with wanting to keep their teeth clean.
Developing a regular dental visit routine during childhood establishes an important habit of maintaining good oral health that will benefit your child lifelong.
Consistent dental checkups teach children from an early age that they are responsible for the health and well-being of their teeth and gums, and this accountability will serve them well as they age.
Conclusion
In summary, taking your kids to regular dental checkups and cleanings with a pediatric dentist provides many long-term benefits for their oral and general health. Visits to a clinic help establish good dental hygiene habits and ensure your child’s teeth and gums stay healthy as they grow and develop. Your investment in your child’s oral health from an early age will pay off by giving them a lifetime of healthy smiles.
AUTHOR’S BIO:
Meet Miranda Spears, a freelance writer from Texas. She loves horseback riding, shopping, experimenting with new recipes, and spending time with her adorable pug, Gizmo. If you’re looking for a pediatric dentist in Carmel Valley, Miranda suggests checking out The Super Dentists for your child’s dental health.
