Important Tips for Your Child's Dental Journey

​February is Children’s Dental Health Month, and we're passionate about getting kids excited about their dental health! This month, we've been visiting area schools to teach children about good oral hygiene and holding a "Rock Your Smile" campaign to get kids rockin' their dental care! 

We thought this would also be the perfect time to educate parents on some frequently overlooked topics regarding your children’s oral health. From the moment they’re born until the day they head off to school and beyond, a lot can happen to their smiles. Keep the following points in mind to ensure that they’re on their way to a healthy and bright dental future!

Babies

• Your baby still has teeth even though you may not see them. We get it - out of sight, out of mind! But it’s important to remember that little ones have developing teeth that need to be cared for just the same as the fully visible ones. That’s why your baby should be put to bed without a bottle to save those teeth from sugar and, in turn, decay.

 

• One is the magic number - for the first dental visit!  Another misconception parents often have is that they should wait until their child starts school to bring them in. On the contrary, age one is when their biannual checkups should begin, or even sooner if teeth have already made an appearance.

 
Young Children

• Baby teeth DO have a purpose. Yes, they're going to fall out eventually, but primary teeth have an important job to do. They are holding a place for permanent teeth, and if they aren't kept healthy, that can cause problems in the future. What's more, decay on a baby tooth can morph into an infection just the same as on an adult tooth.

 

• They still need help brushing. It’s wonderful to get the little ones excited about their oral hygiene, but they still mom or dad’s help. There are plenty of nooks and crannies that they may not be able to reach, so always do a final sweep after they've had their turn with the toothbrush.

 
School-Aged Kids

• Cavities take away valuable learning time. Often there is simply no extra time in the day for a dental check-up other than during school hours. However, missing a couple hours for an appointment is a small price to pay when compared to the time wasted treating dental illness. According to the Center for Health and Health Care in Schools, a staggering 51 million educational hours are hijacked each year in order to treat dental maladies such as cavities. So, even if a routine hygiene appointment means a couple hours out of the school day, it can save a lot of missed classroom time in the long run if we can prevent decay in the first place.

 

• Sports are great, but make sure to protect those teeth! Extracurricular activities account for a sizeable portion of broken teeth at this age, so be prepared! Helmets and mouthguards are a must for contact sports to ensure that no harm comes to your child’s developing smile.

 

• Common cavities can be prevented with sealants. Sealants involve the application of a plastic dental material that "seals," or provides a physical barrier, on the chewing surface of your teeth where grooves (or "fissures") are prone to cavities. Sealants help smooth the grooves and protect teeth from bacteria and acid that cause decay in these areas where toothbrush bristles can have difficulty reaching. According to the American Dental Association, sealants on permanent molars reduce the risk of cavities by 80% and last up to 10 years.  

 

• Kids should be seen by an orthodontist long before they become teenagers. While it may seem a bit premature, we recommend a child’s first orthodontic visit take place between 7 and 9 years old. When children are seen by an orthodontist while their jaws are still developing, a lot more can be done to prevent bigger issues, such as overbites, underbites, crossbites, crowding, and even tooth loss. 

All ages

• Tooth decay is the #1 most common disease in children.​ We hear about a lot of illnesses facing our nation’s youth, such as diabetes or asthma, but did you know that tooth decay is the most prevalent of them all? Parents are the first and best teachers, and you have the power to get your kids on their way to a healthy smile for life! Keep the little ones practicing good oral hygiene habits this month and beyond, and together we can turn this trend around!

LEARN MORE ABOUT PEDIATRIC DENTISTRY.