Understanding Dental Health for Children
Dentists at Family Dental Care – Oak Lawn prioritize dental health for children, which explains why Children’s pediatric dentistry exists as an independent unit in dental facilities. It provides oral services tailored for the varying dental needs of children, right from infancy through to the teenage years.Pediatric Dentistry exists so that every child has an opportunity to create and sustain a healthy dental lifestyle that will yield long-term benefits.
How Do I Prepare My Baby for The Dental Office?
Unless you have consulted a pediatric dentist near you, you may feel hesitant about dental care for your child when they are in the infant stages. However, even before your child starts teething, they are still a prime candidate for dental care. Some tips to help you prepare your baby for their first dental visit are:- Play pretend – you would be surprised by how much children can learn when having fun. Instead of randomly taking your child to a dentist during your free time, start by practicing with them what happens in a dental office. Build up the excitement for visiting a dental office to learn how things are done. Dental-themed activities and plays in the house can help okay the idea of visiting a dentist.
- Familiarize with dental terms – although you should not throw medical jargon at your child, some dental words are necessary for familiarity. Talk to them about various parts of the oral cavity while promoting notions of proper dental health for healthy teeth.
- Schedule an appointment during happy times when your child is in a generally good mood – they are likely to accept the new dental environment.
- Bring comfort items – during the appointment, bring your child’s comfort items, including dolls, toys, and blankets, to help them feel safe during their dental exam.
- Introduce incentives – rewards are great motivators to help children achieve set goals.
Reasons Children Need Dentists
Generally, children need dental care for the same reasons adults do. The reasons you must take your child to a dentist at a young age are:- To prevent dental cavities – children are highly prone to dental cavities when they reach the age of around six years. Without preventive measures in place, chances are very high that your child will incur one or more dental caries on teeth. A dentist will incorporate dental approaches like dental sealants and fluoride treatments that will help teeth fight against dental cavities.
- To create a culture of proper oral hygiene – children can be a bit resistant to dental hygiene approaches at home. However, with the help of a dental expert, they can begin creating a healthy lifestyle for maintaining good oral hygiene.
- Encourage healthy eating lifestyles – most children are fond of sweets and sugary foods over healthy options like fruits and vegetables. To encourage good nutritional habits, you can rely on nutritional counseling dental protocols by a pediatric dentist.
- Avoid the need for restorative treatments – patients who neglect dental care at an early age eventually require restoration procedures when older.
- Preserve natural teeth – other than permanent teeth, and baby teeth need protection. Preserving baby teeth helps protect the proper alignment of teeth by managing the existent spaces until adult teeth start erupting.
