When you become a parent, you become completely responsible for taking care of your child in all respects. That includes taking them to a pediatric dentist’s office regularly. Unfortunately, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 3% of kids aged between 12 and 19 years old haven’t been to the dentist at all in their lives. Here’s why you need to bring yours in on a regular basis.
You Can Help Save Them From Long-Term Problems
Although your child’s baby teeth will fall out to make room for their adult teeth, there can still be lasting effects. Your child could get gum disease and bacteria can get in their bloodstream, just like it would for an adult that didn’t brush their teeth properly. That bacteria can cause problems with other parts of their body, including their heart. Also, baby teeth can still get cavities and cause discomfort for your child. This can be painful and add to the discomfort they’re feeling from teething as well.
That’s why a pediatric dentist should check your child’s oral health every six months and look for any issues with their teeth or gums. They can catch things early on and keep them from becoming a big problem, and they can monitor the state of the adult teeth waiting to emerge in the future. They can ensure they are coming in straight and see any signs of the potential need for aligners.
You Can Help Your Child Feel Comfortable at the Dentist Office
One reason a child might develop a fear of the pediatric dentist’s office is if they don’t go enough early on when their teeth are in good shape. If they go later and the dentist has to do some work, then that might cause them to develop a fear of going to the dentist, which can then cause problems later on in life when they become an adult.
By taking your child to the dentist on a regular basis, they will get used to letting the dentist or hygienist do an exam and cleaning. When you bring your child to the dentist regularly, they will develop a relationship with the professional and feel more comfortable every time they have an appointment.
You Can Learn Whether Your Child Needs Orthodontic Care
A pediatric dentist is going to be monitoring the position of your child’s teeth each time they come in. Are they showing signs of an overbite or an underbite? Do they have crooked teeth? If these issues are left alone, they could cause problems with eating and talking. By monitoring their teeth every visit, they can start the orthodontic process much earlier.
The sooner your child has to wear braces or use Invisalign, the sooner they will have them taken off. They could even be in the early parts of high school, where having a great smile can help them gain confidence.
You Can Both Learn From Professionals
While there are plenty of video resources now on all kinds of topics, including the proper toothbrushing form for children, it’s best to have a professional offer advice. When you visit the dentist with your child, you will be able to get a hands-on lesson about brushing and flossing. They can also show you how to do this at home with your child and maintain the proper form.
Let’s say that it’s hard to get your child to stick to the two-minute brushing rule. The pediatric dentist might be able to teach them a song to play in their head while they brush. In other words, they might be able to turn what is usually seen as being a chore into a fun time.
The same goes for flossing, which is just as important as brushing. It can be hard to get your child to reach all the critical parts of their mouth, since they may not have the best hand and finger control yet. So, the pediatric dentist might have small handheld flossers that can get to the back of the mouth. The flossers are usually colorful, so they can keep your child’s interest throughout.
You Can Communicate With the Dentist
Having your child see their dentist on a regular basis doesn’t just benefit them. It can benefit you, too. The two of you can have a conversation about what they saw in the exam. That way, both of you can get on the same page about what your child is doing correctly and what they can work on. They will explain their findings in a way that’s easy to understand.
By opening this line of communication with your child’s dentist, you’re going to hear things directly from them, not something that your child might tell you later in a more roundabout way. You can follow up with any questions and the dentist can also tell you what equipment you need, like a certain type of toothbrush (electric or manual), mouthwash, and even what foods or beverages are good for them.
The dentist can also talk to you about important issues that don’t extend to actual brushing or flossing. They can point out how long you need to let your child use a bottle since it can wind up damaging their teeth, especially if they fall asleep with the bottle in their mouth and the milk coats them.
Another thing that can cause long-term teeth placement issues is a pacifier. It can even be one of the reasons a child sees an orthodontist. Using the pacifier can cause their teeth to develop an overbite, and the same goes for sucking their thumb. Their pediatric dentist can explain the issues that may be caused by them continuing past a certain age.
From brushing to flossing, there are so many things a dentist can help your child understand the importance of. When you bring your child to a pediatric dentist’s office on a regular basis, you’re going to be helping them build good brushing and flossing habits. Your child will hopefully take these lessons and build on them as they grow into teenagers and adults. They will have the confidence of being able to smile with healthy teeth and gums, and that confidence can help them in other areas of their lives, both personally and professionally.
Are you looking for a pediatric dentist to bring your child to twice a year? Have you been looking for an office that helps children feel more comfortable visiting the dentist regularly? We’re an excellent choice if you’re looking for a local dental office that children in the area feel comfortable in. We can even take the whole family as patients, so you only have one spot to go twice a year. Our staff at Bright Side Dental can do everything from general dentistry to Invisalign.
Contact us today to make an appointment for any of our various services. We’ll be happy to answer any questions you may have about our dental services before you make an appointment to ensure we’re the right fit for you and your family. Our staff is here to help you and your children feel comfortable when you come to the dentist. We look forward to hearing from you and scheduling an appointment.