Good oral hygiene is important at any age. In fact, according to Stanford Medicine, you should bring your child to the dentist by the time they’re 12 months old or when teeth begin to emerge. Read on to see why maintaining these visits to your local pediatric dentist is vital to your child’s dental health.
Monitor the Development of Permanent Teeth
While primary teeth will fall out soon, it’s still just as important to manage their care. As primary teeth fall out, it can affect the angle and alignment permanent teeth come in. Regular visits to your pediatric dentist every six months can ensure permanent teeth sprout as they should. The dentist can make any adjustments needed to ensure these teeth are healthy and strong.
Prevent Cavities
It’s no secret that children love sugary snacks and treats. Making those regular visits every six months can monitor teeth for cavities and other decay. Decayed primary teeth can cause pain and fall out prematurely, but your local dentist can apply sealants to your child’s teeth as a preventative measure.
Check for Misalignment
Alignment issues can reveal themselves at a young age. If children are prone to sucking their thumb, it can create an overbite and other alignment issues. Your pediatric dentist can help wean your child off thumb sucking and other habits that affect such alignment. If exams and X-rays reveal a problem, your dentist can refer you to orthodontic care. Keep in mind that, according to the Association of Orthodontists, children can begin seeing an orthodontist as early as seven years old!
Provide Oral Hygiene Tips
Children must know how to properly brush and floss their teeth, and what’s a better way to learn than from the dentist? When children visit a dental professional every six months, they can demonstrate how to properly brush, floss, and rinse. If there are any questions, those biannual visits are the best times to ask.
As a parent, you should never skip taking your child to your local pediatric dentist. They can keep all primary and permanent teeth healthy and aligned. They can also make any necessary referrals to other dental specialists to handle issues immediately. Keep your child’s teeth healthy by contacting our team here at Bright Side Dental today!