Parents are concerned about their child’s dental health as much as their overall health. You don’t want a dental issue in your child to cause any discomfort and low self-esteem in their adulthood.
Do you know there’s a pediatric dental center for children? Like adults, your kids need to see a dentist every six months. If you are wondering what pediatric dental center are for and what pediatric dentists do, keep reading.
When Should You Take Your Child to a Pediatric Dentist?
The growth of teeth varies from one kid to another, but most of them have their first tooth when they are six months old. You should take your child to the dentist when they turn one year old. Once they are 2-3 years old, their complete set of teeth will have erupted.
They will start eating, chewing, and smiling like adults. That only lasts for 6-10 years, though. As your child reaches 6-7 years, their teeth start falling out, and adult teeth replace them. The rear molar is often the last to fall out, and new, adult teeth replace it.
There’s a common misconception that children must see a dentist when their adult teeth erupt. The truth, however, is that you should take your child to a dental clinic earlier.
There are two reasons for that. One, your child gets familiar with the oral check up and won’t feel discomfort when they visit the dentist after their adult teeth erupt. Secondly, the dentist can conduct an oral check up to determine any dental issues beforehand.
The Dentist Appointment: What to Expect?
The dentist checks the overall health of your child’s teeth and the signs of tooth decay. At the age of seven, your child starts developing adult teeth. So, the dentist will check the teeth’ alignment, gums, and soft tissue. It’s the correct age to determine whether your child has a correct bite, a proper smile, and well-aligned teeth.
You can discuss thumb-sucking, bottle-feeding, and other habits you are concerned about. Although pediatric dentists specialize in nearly all dental services, your child might not need most of them at a young age. Their services include:
- Scaling
- Tooth extraction
- Orthodontics for kids
- Root canal
- Cavity removal
- Fixing chipped or cracked teeth
- General oral check up
Pediatric dental services protect your child’s mouth, keep it healthy, and prevent any form of irregularities in their teeth. Even if their teeth are irregular or misaligned, you can have them fixed early.
Once the child’s adult teeth erupt, they might need regular dental care. For example, scaling is a must every six months to a year. This will keep your child’s teeth clean and keep discoloration at bay.
Tips for Your Child’s Oral Health
Getting your child familiar with the dentist is the first step to improving their oral health. You should also teach your child to brush and floss regularly to prevent tooth decay. You can make brushing fun for your little one by brushing with them in the morning and at night before going to bed. This makes it look more like a fun family activity and less like a chore.
Most children face difficulty holding their toothbrushes correctly for the first few years. Parents must help them in the initial stage. It’s also important to replace their toothbrush every 3-4 months. Teach them what’s good for their teeth and what they should limit. Dark-coloured foods, for example, might stain the child’s teeth. You should ask them to brush immediately after eating chocolates or dark-coloured foods.
Take Them to an Orthodontist
The irregular teeth might erupt for several reasons. If your child has irregular teeth or an incorrect bite, they need to see an orthodontist. The sooner you visit a pediatric dental center, the faster they’ll fix and align your child’s teeth.
They might have to wear braces or Invisalign for a year or two. They may also need to see the orthodontist every month. It is best to fix their bite and straighten their teeth when they are young, as delaying it will only make it difficult to restore the proper alignment. Taking them to an orthodontist early will also prevent dental anxiety in kids. Taking your child to an orthodontist when they start developing their baby teeth is better. The doctor will evaluate the gum’s health to ensure that everything develops properly.
To learn more about a child’s oral health, visit Navarro pediatric dental center. The Navarro dentistry dentist will tell you all you should know about the child’s dental health and tips for protecting their teeth from discoloration, cavities, and other dental issues.
