You love to see your child smile. It brightens your day and brings you joy. You would do anything to see that smile stay happy and healthy, wouldn’t you? Well, caring for your child’s teeth plays a big part in doing just that. February is National Children’s Dental Health Month—it’s a great time to learn about the dental problems that children face and how you can teach your child to take care of their smile. Here is some helpful information from your pediatric dentist in Naperville.
Fighting the Statistics
The most common condition that children face is cavities. In fact, children are five times more likely to get a cavity than to get asthma. About 20% of children ages 5 to 11 have at least one decayed tooth that is untreated. Because they sometimes struggle to communicate their symptoms clearly, they can suffer from cavities that give them pain or infections and can cause problems with everyday tasks. Eating, playing, learning, and speaking can become more difficult for them. In school, children with poor oral health are more likely to receive lower grades than those with good oral health.
Starting Early
It’s never too early to start bringing your child to the pediatric dentist in Naperville. Following their first birthday, your child should come to the dentist every six months for a checkup. That way, the dentist can answer any of your questions for caring for your little one’s growing mouth and form a friendly relationship with your child. The sooner your child starts seeing the dentist on a regular basis, the better and sooner they can become accustomed to the dentist, their office, and their tools. These early appointments with the dentist can help your child have positive feelings about dental care that last a lifetime.
Monitoring Development
At these six-month visits, your children’s dentist in Naperville can keep track of your child’s oral development and let you know about potential problems in the future. For example, when your child is preparing for their adult teeth, the dentist can let you know if they see signs that orthodontic work will need to be done to accommodate them all. Consistent visits also allow the dentist to monitor either good or bad trends and see progression.
Enjoying Cleanings
Of course, a routine appointment with the dentist for kids in Naperville wouldn’t be complete without a dental cleaning. Even with diligent brushing and flossing at home, your child can still have plaque build up on their teeth. Over time that buildup solidifies and becomes much harder to remove. Without professional intervention, this buildup can lead to cavities. The hygienist has the training and equipment to take care of that before it becomes an issue. If your child comes twice a year, your child can avoid or at least reduce dental problems.
Your child’s oral health is worth protecting. Take the time this month to evaluate how well you are teaching your child to care for their smile. Make sure they see their pediatric dentist and form those healthy oral habits now so that they will be more likely to continue them into adulthood. By working with your dentist, you can help keep your child’s smile healthy and happy for many years to come.
About the Author
With three talented, experienced, and friendly dentists, Tic Tac Tooth Pediatric Dentistry provides personalized dental care for infants, kids, and teens. Their team is qualified to deliver cosmetic, restorative, emergency, and preventive dentistry services to their patients, while helping them feel relaxed and comfortable. To contact them for an appointment, you can call (630) 995-3393 or click here.