Taking your child to the dentist can be stressful. In fact, you may be tempted to let them skip their routine checkups. However, this can be detrimental to their oral health. Many people don’t understand the importance of children’s oral health because their teeth fall out naturally. Some are under the impression that baby teeth do not need care from a dentist.
Yet, the health of your child’s baby teeth can influence their permanent adult teeth. To avoid any long-term dental issues, you should regularly bring your child to the dentist. Taking your child to their routine appointments can benefit them for years to come.
Prevent Tooth Decay and Gum Disease
One of the leading chronic diseases in children is tooth decay. This is partially due to their lack of dental care and high-sugar diets. In addition, many children do not know how to brush their teeth properly. This increases their chances of developing cavities. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), over half of children between ages 6-8 have had at least one cavity.
When children visit the dentist for their regular checkups, their dental team can identify cavities before they do any significant damage. However, without treatment, tooth decay can cause pain and infections. In fact, the decay from a baby tooth can reach their permanent adult teeth. When this happens, it can cause deformation of the enamel and infection of the tooth.
Additionally, the dentist will show your child how to care for their teeth properly. This will include proper brushing and flossing techniques.
Minimize Dental Anxiety
Taking your child to the dentist early in life can help minimize dental anxiety. Dental anxiety is the fear or stress that comes from visiting the dentist. For some people, their dental anxiety is mild, causing them only minor distress. However, some people develop a phobia or fear of the dentist, preventing them from making their appointments.
The earlier you take your child to the dentist, the better off they will be. Before they can create bad ideas about the dentist, they will learn that there is nothing to be afraid of. Therefore, they are more likely to keep going to the dentist as adults.
Spot Bite Problems
One of the many benefits of taking your child to the dentist is their ability to spot bite problems. A “bite” refers to how your teeth sit in your mouth. If you have crooked teeth, an underbite, an overbite, etc., your dentist will call this issue a bad bite. While some bad bites are only an aesthetic issue, others can cause problems with speaking and eating.
As your child grows, their baby teeth begin to grow in. If they go to the dentist regularly, their dentist will be able to see if they will have future teeth problems before their permanent teeth erupt. With their specialized training, your dentist can identify a bad bite. Additionally, they can use x-rays to view the structure of their teeth.