Good Dental Habits in Childhood Last a Lifetime

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Good pediatric dental care during the first few years of a person’s life is essential to give the proper foundation for overall good health throughout life. Parents can get information and recommendations from places like Kool Smiles and other dentistry networks. The best dentists offer the benefit of preventative care as well as restorative care, diagnostic imaging and electronic health records. Parents or caregivers will learn how to care for their baby’s teeth and the baby will get used to visiting the dentist without fear. 

Some of the things parents learn in caring for children’s teeth are:

• Why it is important for the child to learn to drink from a cup when they are around 1 year old. Thumb-sucking and the use of pacifiers should be stopped or greatly reduced by the time the child is 3 years old. 
• Why falling asleep with milk or juice in their mouth causes cavities. When the child sleeps the whole night with milk or sugar from juice on their teeth, it can cause tooth decay very quickly.
• How they can brush their baby’s teeth. Parents can start brushing their baby’s gums before the teeth erupt and continue until the child can do it. A very soft tooth brush should be used, and flossing can be done when the teeth arrive.
 
• Why mothers who breastfeed should stop on-demand feeding at night after the child turns 1 year old. Mother’s milk also contains ingredients that will cause tooth decay if left on the teeth for hours during sleep.
 

Early checkups can help prevent cavities in children. Tooth decay will cause pain as well as other medical issues, which can cause health problems for very young children. When teeth are properly cared for, children will chew their food better, speak clearly and smile with confidence. According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, children should visit a dentist before the age of 1 year or when the first teeth start to erupt. Baby teeth are important as place-keepers for the adult teeth and can play a big part in the necessity of braces. 

Pediatric dentists have from two to three years of specialty training to treat children. They are trained to treat infants and children through adolescence, including children who have special needs. They can help each child avoid major dental problems and be able to see in advance if braces may be required. They also learn how to talk to children during dental treatments and help them relax. 

If primary teeth do not receive care, they can develop cavities. This may result in infections in the mouth and a great deal of pain. Infections in the mouth and cavitations can spread to other parts of the body and cause abscesses, which is especially harmful for children because their immune systems aren’t fully developed. If there is no other choice but to extract a baby tooth, the dentist may recommend putting a spacer, so the remaining teeth don’t shift their position. Shifting could cause orthodontic problems for the permanent teeth. 

Along with regular dental care, parents and caregivers should set a good example of dental hygiene. This is one of the best habits a person can develop and will last a lifetime.

Veronica Davis