While it is true that some kids don’t like going to the dentist, this is usually because they don’t have any experience with it. By the time they get to the age of three or four, enough time has passed for them to feel scared at the prospect, and this can make the visit more difficult.
Many dentists, therefore, advocate that parents take their kids to the dentist young. The current advice from the American Dental Association and the American Academy of Pediatrics is that parents should take their children to visit the dental clinic when they are twelve months old before they are walking fully.
There are several reasons for this. The first is that it helps prevent a host of problems that you could encounter at a later time that might impinge on the development of your child. Take a look at the following mouth health problems that children could experience if they don’t start going to the dentist early in their lives:
- Cavities and tooth decay. Just like regular adult teeth, baby teeth are prone to tooth decay. Dentists recommend that babies go to the dentist as soon as the first tooth appears. Waiting any longer than this could mean that the tooth develops unsupervised, and the baby’s mouth health is at risk.
- Problems with chewing. Young children with tooth decay can develop a range of issues, including issues with eating. If they avoid chewing with certain parts of their mouth, they can formulate uneven structures that cause problems as they get older.
- Problems with concentrating. Children need to be able to focus if they are to learn about the world around them. But if they are experiencing tooth pain, this can be more difficult. Dental pain may put the buffers on their individual development and cause them to fall behind on their school work or other aspects of their lives.
Going to the dentist early, therefore, is essential for preventing a host of oral-health-related problems (not just issues with teething). A child must have a healthy mouth from a young age to be able to function correctly. If there are problems with their teeth, then it could begin to affect the rest of their lives, arresting healthy development. This is why its important to know How To Find A Good Dentist?
Caregivers Can Receive Education On How To Look After Teeth
It’s not just about inspecting the child’s teeth and providing fillings – dentists also help caregivers understand their role in the process.
Children, for instance, often drink bottles of milk and juice. Parents need to understand that both of these types of food present a substantial risk of cavities forming. Dentists, therefore, explain why these items cause decay and what parents can do to prevent it. They can also offer advice on how to encourage their children to drink from a cup from one year of age and teach proper brushing technique – something that a lot of adults find challenging to master.
Tooth decay among children is not an idle risk. Research suggests that it is the most common chronic condition among young adults in the United States, with the CDC estimating that around 40 percent of all children have some tooth decay by the time they reach the age of four.
Around two-thirds of all kids of elementary school-age have some kind of tooth decay issue during the first few grades of school, making it a big problem across the country. Around 20 percent of children have five cavities for every seven teeth in their mouth.
How To Prepare For Your Child’s First Visit To The Dentist
Taking your child to the dentist is essential. Not only will you learn about mouth cleaning and teething, but you’ll also get advice on other habits, such as baby bottle tooth decay, thumb-sucking, and pacifier habits.
Making going to the dentist for the first time a pleasant experience, however, can be a challenge.
The first thing to do is to prepare your child for the experience. Most dentists find that children are best when they visit the dentist during a morning appointment. If your child is older and they have never been to the dentist before, then sometimes it can help to show them around and introduce them to staff before they go for the first time. If your child is very young, it’s best to prepare them in a different way, such as telling them that visits to the dentist help them to protect their teeth.
The next step is to give the dentist all of the information that they need about your child’s dental history. It’s worth talking to them about the character and personality of your child, such as if they are difficult and stubborn. You can also speak to the dentist about your child’s fears and anxieties about being in the dentist’s chair. Competent practitioners will accommodate and do whatever they can to make the child feel welcome.
Children of different ages have varying abilities to cope with visits to the dentist. Those between 12 and 24 months, for instance, may get upset if separated from the parent during the visit to the clinic. Those older than three years might be okay going to see the dentist by themselves, but not always.
Your child’s first visit will usually last between 30 and 45 minutes. During that time, they’ll have a full tooth and jaw exam to check that everything is developing correctly. Teeth cleaning specialists will remove tartar and plaque if necessary. The dentist will also help your child to understand the importance of regularly cleaning teeth and flossing. Usually, they will not conduct X-rays as baby teeth fall early in a child’s life, but in severe cases of tooth decay, they may want to see what’s going on below the gumline.
Children then tend to visit the dentist once every six months after their first visit. The purpose of these visits is to both keep an eye on their teeth but also help them grow in confidence of going to the Dentist In Oakbrook Terrace. It can be a challenging experience, otherwise.
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