New parents have so much to think about, and priorities constantly change as children grow and develop. One priority that will never change is ensuring your child’s health is as good as it can be. A good pediatric dentist can help you to make sure that your kid’s dental health never falters.
Make sure you help your child’s health right from the start and keep in mind their oral health at all times.
Pediatric dentists, like our own Dr. Patterson, lay the groundwork for your child’s dental care from an early age all the way through their adolescent years. We dedicate our careers to the specific care of children making sure that they feel as welcome and safe as possible during each visit.
A Pediatric Dentist Highlights the Importance of Prevention
Pediatric dentists always stress the importance of prevention. Your dentist will offer recommendations about home care during your appointment and provide you with brochures containing valuable tips and suggestions to promote your child’s oral health.
A general or family dentist provides dental services for every age group. A pediatric dentist, on the other hand, devotes their practice solely to the treatment of children. This means additional training in pediatrics, meaning that we know how to make young patients feel safe and secure during our treatment.
We know that it’s always best to prevent rather than correct. The earlier we start your kid on the path to good oral health habits, the better their odds will be in the battle against childhood dental issues.
Education and prevention are critical in the campaign against tooth decay among school-age children, and pediatric dentists are leaders in the fight.
Tooth decay is one of the most prevalent chronic diseases children suffer here in the US. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), over 45% of children above 2 years old have either treated or untreated dental caries.
The most regrettable part of all this is that tooth decay is perfectly preventable. A pediatric dentist can make an early assessment of whether your child will be one of a group of those at high risk for cavities.
If this turns out to be the case, there’s much we can do to help out. Along with a good dental hygiene routine, we can help with preventative dentistry procedures.
Dental sealants can cover the biting surface of molars as soon as they erupt to provide a protective shield against bacteria. Fluoride treatments are especially beneficial to help remineralize your child’s teeth’ protective layer.
Good Dental Hygiene to Prevent Tooth Decay
While we’re on the subject of prevention, you have to help your child understand oral health care value through good hygiene. The specifics of a good dental hygiene routine will change depending on your kid’s age, but the same goal remains.
Help remove any food particles or remains from your kid’s mouth to avoid increasing the risk of dental caries from a young age.
Your kid’s smile will thank you for it.
Before your baby has their first tooth, you should limit the routine to wiping their gums with a clean damp cloth.
After the first tooth erupts, you should consider setting your first appointment with a pediatric dentist. The American Association of Pediatric Dentists (AAPD) recommends you set your child’s first dental appointment either by their first birthday or the eruption of their first tooth.
Use a soft-bristled toothbrush to brush your child’s milk teeth carefully. You could start using toothpaste but stay away from fluoride toothpaste until your kid is at least two years old. Before then, most kids have trouble spitting out things. You run the risk of having your child swallow the toothpaste and upset their tummy.
Even more serious, if your child ingests too much fluoride in a short time, they could develop a condition called fluorosis.
From there on, remember to help your child brush their teeth at least twice a day, floss regularly and use mouthwash to rinse their mouth at the end of the routine.
Pediatric Dentists Help With Tooth Sensitivity
Tooth sensitivity can affect adults and children alike. Sensitive teeth are extraordinarily susceptible to pain when they come in contact with a hot or cold element. It could be something that we eat or drink or even when we expose our teeth to freezing air.
The reason we bring this up is that tooth sensitivity can be indicative of other dental health problems.
Enamel is the hard surface found on the outer surface of the teeth. Any time the enamel layer is compromised, it opens up the possibility of soft tissue infection. The pulp inside the tooth contains seral nerve endings that flare up when they are exposed.
If your child complains about tooth pain when they have ice cream or hot soup, it may be that they have tooth sensitivity. Their pediatric dentist can help check for any signs of tooth decay or existing cavities due to harmful bacteria eroding the enamel of your child’s teeth.
Other Reasons for Tooth Sensitivity
Children who are in the process of getting their permanent teeth may be susceptible. Just the fact that a newly erupted tooth spent most of its time safely under the gum’s protective surface for so long may mean that it will experience some initial sensitivity to its new environment. Time will make it less vulnerable.
The metal content of silver fillings can react adversely to the outside stimulants of hot and cold. If your child has a dental amalgam, it may well be causing the increased hypersensitivity.
Also, your kid might have had an accident during physical activities or contact sports. A chipped or broken tooth will expose the dentin and bring on sensitivity.
Tooth sensitivity can be confused with some of the possible side effects of allergies or a sinus infection. Children who suffer from these conditions may complain that their teeth hurt. Your Aurora pediatric dentist will be able to determine the underlying source of the irritation.
Visiting a Pediatric Dentist for a Positive Experience
Try to schedule your first visit for a time when your child is most likely to be wide awake and in a good mood.
The first appointment is basically an introductory one, a time for everyone to say hello and especially for your child to become familiar with the surroundings of the office and treatment center.
You may be surprised to find how kid-friendly the reception area is. Pediatric dentists like to cater to their clientele by creating an atmosphere that will impress the children so much that they will actually look forward to coming again. You can even take a quick virtual tour of our office.
Consider the convenience factor. It’s by no means the most important reason for choosing a dentist for your child, but finding a pediatric dentist in Aurora who meets all of your needs and whose office is in reasonable proximity to home or school could be a definite bonus.
Discuss any questions that you may have about your child’s dental health at Epic Dentistry for Kids.
