Pediatric dentistry takes a holistic approach to ensuring the oral health of young patients. An important aspect of this approach involves providing guidance to parents.
Infants and toddlers cannot take care of their teeth without help. They rely on their parents for oral hygiene. As they grow, children also need their parents to teach and enforce habits such as proper nutrition, regular dental visits and good oral hygiene.
As a parent, you have an important role in preventing cavities and other dental issues in your kids. That is why you should take time to talk with your child’s dentist to find out how you can keep your child’s teeth free from tooth decay.
The primary role of a parent is to ensure that their child grows up healthy and strong. Among other things, this responsibility involves providing good nutrition, safety, health care and enrichment opportunities. This is a lot to deal with, and it is easy to put pediatric dental care on the back burner. A parent should fight this urge.
Maintaining a child’s oral health is just as important as keeping up with their flu shots. The reason behind this is that oral health affects systemic health and vice versa. This is why parents should get constant guidance from their child’s pediatric dentist. The dentist will help parents create and enforce oral habits that keep their child's teeth in good health.
Here is what a parent should expect from their regular talks with a pediatric dentist.
For the most part, parents have to learn about childcare hands-on, with the additional help of parenting classes, advice from seasoned parents and input from their pediatrician. The same goes for the oral hygiene of the child.
A pediatric dentist will show the parent how to clean their child’s mouth, from infancy to age five. The guidance will likely include the following:
Many parents like to leave their children with a bottle as they sleep. Others give children juice several times over the course of the day. A pediatric dentist will advise parents to limit the amount of sweet beverages that they give to their child. They will also ask parents to avoid leaving a child with a bottle at bedtime. (While milk may not seem like a sweet treat, its effect on a child's teeth proves otherwise.) These seemingly small measures go a long way in preventing cavities.
Thumb sucking and extended use of a pacifier are habits that can lead to a bad bite, which can lead to cavities. A pediatric dentist will work with parents to devise ways to discourage these habits gradually and permanently.
Children with chronic conditions are often on constant medication. Some of this medication has a considerable amount of sugar in it, which can contribute to cavities. Other kinds of medication can cause side effects such as oral thrush.
A pediatric dentist can advise parents on how to mitigate the effects of such medications. Usually, this involves a stricter oral hygiene routine.
Healthy teeth are far less expensive than those plagued with dental problems. Begin your child's relationship with pediatric dentistry early in order to set them up for a lifetime of excellent oral health.
Request an appointment here: https://pediatric-dental-arts.com or call Pediatric Dental Arts at (617) 209-6434 for an appointment in our Watertown office.
Check out what others are saying about our services on Yelp: Pediatric Dentist in Watertown, MA.
When it comes to your child's dental health, the first visit to a pediatric dentist is a significant milestone. It sets the foundation for a lifetime of healthy oral hygiene habits and helps alleviate any anxiety your child may have about visiting the dentist. If you're searching for a "pediatric dentist near me," it's important…
Maintaining and monitoring a child's oral health from the very start can reduce the risk of future problems, such as multiple cavities. A pediatric dentistry clinic can help parents learn why early visits for infants are so important. From preventing gingivitis to monitoring the way a baby's teeth grow and erupt, regular dental visits for…
Cavity treatment for kids is a chief concern among parents, and for a good reason. Cavities are common in children of all ages. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, over half of the kids ages 6 to 8 have had at least one cavity in a primary tooth. The good news is…
A pediatric dentist can help prevent tooth decay. Early dental checkups will enable the dentist to provide treatments that can make this possible. Your dentist can guide you and your child on how to keep teeth and gums healthy. Here are some effective tips on how to prevent childhood tooth decay straight from a pediatric…
Dental bonding for kids is not something you see every day, but it is sometimes necessary to keep a child from losing their teeth too early due to damage and decay. You may have heard of this procedure before for adults, but it is also very useful for kids and can dramatically improve the look…
Looking for more information on children’s dental care? Good idea. This information is especially beneficial for new parents, as they need to fully understand the dental care requirements recommended by dental professionals. There are dental guidelines in place that listWanting more insight on children’s dental care? When children are sitting in a dental chair, there…