The Center for Disease Control and Prevention has stated that tooth decay is the leading chronic, childhood condition facing the nation. To counter-attack the threat, parents have the responsibility of monitoring their newborns dental hygiene from day one. Some parents may think that dental care for their children is a waste of time as baby teeth will naturally fall out and be replaced by adult teeth over time. Nothing could be further from the truth.

The Case For Pediatric Dental Care

0900-DENTIST notes that “Most children start losing baby teeth by age six, starting with the front teeth and going all the way to the molars at the back by age 12 or 14.” However, Junior’s good oral hygiene is important from the get go, not only as a preventative measure, but as a way to ensure that children are well versed in the connection between dental care and oral health.

Dental neglect in the young can lead to greater dental problems down the line such as:

• Infection: Dental neglect can lead to infections in both children and adult. However, when the situation occurs in a child, a tooth extraction is the most practical solution. It can take up to eight years for a replacement to grow.
• Missing Teeth: The voids created by missing teeth may cause malocclusion (the misalignment of teeth) of adult tooth growth. In turn, that can only be remedied with costly orthodontic work.
• Malnutrition: Children need teeth to chew and eat healthy solid foods to grow and develop and dental woes can make getting the proper nutrition a challenge.

Pain: Dental neglect can result in cavities that if left untreated are prone to infection and pain.

Dental Tips For Parents

New parents or parents to be, should brush up on oral health basics to ensure the well being of their child. Some child dental care tips to follow include:

• Take a child to a dental exam and check up by their first birthday.
• Clean up food residue after feeding by using a soft cloth or gauze to gently wipe down gums. This process will reduce the sugars left behind and minimize the chance of tooth erosion occurring.
• Once a child gets a tooth, proper brushing is a must. Parents are advised to use the softest tooth brush available, brush the tooth twice a day with the tiniest amount of fluoride toothpaste.
• Once all baby teeth have grown in, flossing once a day is a must.
• Only allow children to sip on water, not juice or soda. dental care needs, children need special care and the skilled hands of either a pediatric dentist or a kid’s dentist.

The most important thing is to make going to the dentist fun so a child does not develop any dental anxiety surrounding the situation. Many of the offices of pediatric dentists are filled with distractions such as toys, play areas and TVs. After the happy time in the waiting room, depending on the child’s age parents can expect:

• To be asked to wait in the reception area so your child can bond with the new dentist.
• The first appointment should last between 15-30 minutes.
• A complete dental examination involving the inspection of the teeth, jaw, bite, gums and oral tissues.
• A gentle cleaning to remove dental plaque and tartar build up.

• Discussions in regards to future dental growth, care and maturation.