Family Dentist Encourages Preventive Dentistry for Children

Your teeth are designed to last for a lifetime with the right home oral hygiene habits and regular care from your family dentist in Valparaiso. You work hard to promote the health of your teeth and gums, but what about your child’s dental health? Often, it is believed that children do not require routine services from their dentist because the baby teeth eventually fall out. However, this could not be further from the truth. The future of your child’s dental health relies on the habits they learn at home and the care they receive from their dentist.

Protect Your Child’s Smile

Baby teeth serve an important role. They help your child learn proper oral functions that are needed for eating and speaking. They also act as placeholders for their adult teeth. Their health is vital to your child’s development, as well as their oral health in the future.

Research shows that children who are taught oral hygiene habits early and visit their dentist every six months are more likely to maintain their dental health into adulthood. Unfortunately, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that only 84% of children had a dental visit last year. In addition, the National Children’s Oral Health Foundation found that 1 in 5 children in the United States goes without dental care completely. This is especially concerning as tooth decay is the top chronic childhood illness in America, which is preventable with oral hygiene and regular appointments.

It is estimated that 40% of children will have had at least one cavity before they enter kindergarten. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that 20% of children between the ages of 5 to 11 currently have untreated cavities, which significantly impacts their oral health. Children with poor oral health have been found to miss 3 times as many schools as those with good dental health.

To ensure that your child develops and maintains a healthy smile, it is best to start incorporating dental care into their routine at a young age.

Promote a Healthy Smile

As a parent, there are several things you can do to help foster your child’s oral health and the development of their teeth, such as:

• Start an oral hygiene routine while they are young, even before the first tooth erupts.
• Encourage brushing their teeth twice a day for two minutes each session using a soft-bristled toothbrush and fluoride toothpaste.
• Teach them how to properly floss in between each tooth every night.
• Choose fluoridated tap water whenever possible.
• Schedule their first dental appointment before the age of one and maintain them every six months.

Encourage a Healthy Smile

With the right foundation, your child can develop and maintain a healthy smile that lasts for a lifetime. Help your child start their journey to optimal dental health with encouragement at home.

About Smiles of Valparaiso & Associates

Smiles of Valparaiso & Associates is committed to creating generations of healthy smiles. In addition to adults, we cater to children to help promote and monitor their dental health. If your child needs cleaning and checkup, contact us today to schedule an appointment.