Maintaining good oral health requires one to select a dentist who can perfectly deal with their particular needs. Some dentists specialize in a certain field of dentistry. A pediatric dentist or a dentist who works with children, examines babies and kids until they start to become young adults. It is very important to take your children to a kids’ dentist as baby teeth start to erupt through the gums. The first tooth usually erupts at about 6 months old.
During their visit, the kid’s dentist will inspect each tooth carefully and a hygienist will perform a thorough cleaning. Your child will be treated with a topical fluoride, checked for cavities, and probably get x-rays of the teeth. If the kid’s dentist detects any problems, he or she will take care of it early enough instead of letting it develop into something serious down the road. Most of the time, serious conditions start as small problems that could have been prevented if they were noticed early enough.
If your child does not see a pediatric or kids’ dentist regularly, long-term problems could occur. Cavities are common issues that can be caught with a routine check. If they are not addressed, they could sooner or later cause the whole tooth to decay, which not only causes pain and possibly infection, but also increases the likelihood of losing the entire tooth. Gingivitis and periodontitis can also generally be caught early with routine checkups.
In addition, many children need adequate fluoride in the diet or home care routine, which is essential for preventing cavities. This is done by using a fluoride rinse, drinking water that contains fluoride, or taking a daily supplement as well as brushing with a pea-sized quantity of fluoridated toothpaste. The kid’s dentist will be able to identify whether your child is not getting sufficient fluoride and can recommend supplements that will help to prevent cavities.
It is very important to note that baby teeth help guide the placement of the permanent teeth. A missing or a decayed baby tooth can result in misaligned or crooked permanent teeth, which can lead to various problems, such as difficulty in chewing, premature tooth loss and the inability to maintain good dental hygiene. For more severe scenarios, it can also interfere with TMJ or the temporomandibular joint, a joint that connects the skull to the lower jaw, which leads to much discomfort when an adult. Visiting a kid’s dentist early enough will certainly help to ensure simple issues don’t develop into something very severe.
Importance of regular dentist visits
