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The Importance of Oral Health for your Little Ones
February is National Children’s Dental Health Month - a great time to discuss the importance of oral health for your little ones.
The Center for Pediatric Dentistryhas found that tooth decay is the most common chronic disease among children in the United States. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that more than 40 percent of children have decay by the time they reach kindergarten. But you can help put a stop to this before it even starts.
You should begin teaching good oral health habits to your children from the time their very first toothgrows in. Often times, parents think “those baby teeth will fall out eventually anyway” - which may be true, but baby teeth have a very important job. They are responsible for reserving the spaces for your child’s permanent teeth. In saying that, your child’s mouth as a whole must be healthy enough to hold and sustain his/her adult teeth.
A number of children have fears about going to the dentist, but the dental care team at SIHF Healthcare helps to ease those fears. They take the time at every visit to educate pediatric patients and parents about the importance of oral care, teaching good nutrition and proper oral hygiene practices. Our dental team is committed toensuring your child's teeth stay healthy, free of decay and other dental diseases. Educating young patients is key because without proper preventive care, even baby teeth can decay causing:
- Gum and tooth pain
- Gum inflammation & gum disease
- Difficulty chewing food
You’ll want to make sure your child has his/her first dental visit by the time he/she is one year old. From this point forward, you’ll want to begin scheduling regular dental visits, giving your child a good start to healthy teeth and gums. Just as with an adult visit, your child’s dentist will give their teeth thorough cleanings to remove plaque build-up and food debris your child cannot remove on their own. By allowing a dentist to conduct bi-annual cleanings on your child’s teeth, you are taking necessary measures that will prevent bacteria from growing. Over the course of time, that bacteria (if left unaided) will result in the dental concerns listed above.
In addition to scheduling regular dental check-ups and cleanings for your child, their daily oral care routine must be a good one. You will need to assist them in their younger years and guide them to do the following:
- You’ll need to brush their teeth twice a day when they are babies
- Teach them to brush twice a day when they get older
- Make sure they are brushing with fluoride toothpaste
- Avoid sugary foods and drinks
- Provide them with a healthy diet
At SIHF Healthcare, our dental team provides the highest quality oral healthcare for your little ones. We complement our team of experts with state-of-the-art equipment and the latest technology to minimize any pain and maximize your child’s comfort while in the dentist chair. For our dentists, the care the provide is more than simply fixing a dental problem. For more information about SIHF’s dental services or to schedule your child’s appointment with one of our providers, click here.