Pediatric dentists want you to know how important baby teeth are. Pediatric dentists often do not see a child at the dentist’s office until your child already has a problem. The health of baby teeth in children has a direct impact on the health of permanent teeth. Your dentist can be a great partner in caring for your child’s baby and permanent teeth.
The enamel of baby teeth is thinner than the enamel of permanent teeth. This means that tooth decay can happen quickly. Pediatric dentists recommend that parents begin to clean baby teeth as soon as the first teeth appear. This can be around six months of age. Dentists also recommend parents schedule the first dental appointment before the child turns one year of age.
Tooth decay in baby teeth can cause several issues. Teeth may fall out, or a pediatric dentist may have to extract them. Early tooth loss can affect speech and language. Cavities can be painful for children and may affect their ability to eat. Severe cases can affect the health of the entire mouth. Taking care of baby teeth has a direct impact on the health of the permanent teeth that will erupt later.
Many parents think that baby teeth are not very important since baby teeth fall out during childhood by design. Pediatric dentists disagree strongly with this sentiment. Practicing healthy oral hygiene habits should begin when the first baby teeth appear around six months of age. Baby teeth serve several important functions.
As baby teeth come in, children can chew and grind with baby teeth. Even just a few teeth can help babies to tear and chew food. Growing toddlers and small children need the nutrients from foods that require chewing. Losing baby teeth early due to decay can make chewing foods more difficult. Children could also experience more pain and soreness because of cavities and tooth decay.
Baby teeth are much smaller than permanent teeth. Often baby teeth have large gaps between them. This is normal, and these teeth still serve an important function. Pediatric dentists want parents to know that baby teeth hold space for permanent teeth. If baby teeth fall out or a dentist extracts them because of decay, the permanent teeth underneath may erupt out of alignment. This can affect the other permanent teeth that surround the misaligned tooth.
Your pediatric dentist can help you with any questions or concerns about your child’s dental health. Your child can get a teeth cleaning and, in some cases, a protective fluoride varnish. Parents can work with dentists to learn and reinforce good oral hygiene habits like proper brushing and flossing. Learning these habits when your child is young helps to establish a good foundation of lifelong healthy habits. Regular visits to the pediatric dentist throughout childhood can help to identify any potential dental issues in the early stages.
Request an appointment or call Grand Parkway Pediatric Dental at 832-579-0960 for an appointment in our Richmond office.
Visiting a pediatric dentistry office with your child ensures his or her future relationship with oral hygiene and dentists, in general. Whenever your child suffers from oral injuries, consider making an appointment with your pediatric dentist to uncover any underlying problems. For instance, injuries to the tongue and teeth could indicate a deeper jaw or…
Fluoridated water is part of pediatric dentistry. It is a convenient and easy way to strengthen and protect teeth at an early age. Many areas have fluoridated water, which is a definite advantage. If you want to know why a dentist will likely recommend fluoridated water, here are the details.Studies show that almost all sources…
Nutrition is an important part of pediatric dentistry. Having balanced amounts of vitamins and minerals can strengthen and protect the teeth. Proper nutrients also fuel dental function. If you want to know how important nutrition is for your child’s oral health, here are the details from a pediatric dentistry professional.Children are still developing. They need…
A kid-friendly dentist educates children on ways to improve their oral hygiene at home. These lessons can help as children grow older and become more independent. A kid-friendly dentist chooses to focus on tailoring their office atmosphere and services to make it most comfortable for younger children.Every dentist has their own way of educating their…
A kid-friendly dentist offers services to children. A part of treating younger children includes dealing with their anxiety and helping them to remain calm and relaxed during their visit. There are certain techniques that dentists use to help children remain calm, which is discussed in this review.Kid-friendly dentists typically treat each child in a unique…