Dental health is a lifelong journey. From the time your child’s first tooth comes in, proper dental care is necessary to keep the teeth healthy. Dentistry for children is one of the most important dental fields as preventive care can eliminate the need for other types of dental services in the future. Here’s what you can do to start your child on the road to dental health.
Routine Dental Cleanings
It is essential for children to see the dentist every 6 months for preventive care. Preventive care includes cleanings, oral examinations, X-Rays, and sometimes fluoride treatments. Children should start seeing the dentist as early as 6 months of age or after the first tooth erupts.
Primary teeth, more commonly known as baby teeth, are just as important as permanent teeth as they play an important part in helping the permanent teeth come in properly. Taking proper care of baby teeth from an early age sets the foundation for healthy permanent teeth, and visiting a pediatric dentist is a crucial part of that early dental care.
Teach Good Oral Hygiene Habits
Learning how to brush and floss properly is an important part of a child’s dental health journey. When they learn good oral hygiene habits from a young age, those habits have a better chance of lasting for their lifetime. Teach your child to:
- – Brush twice a day.
- – Floss once a day.
- – Brush properly so that no critical spots are missed. Sing a song or use a timer to make sure they brush long enough.
- – Floss properly so in order to prevent decay between the teeth.
- – Eat healthy foods like crunchy vegetables, fruits and dairy foods like cheese and milk.
- – Take breaks between eating and drinking to give your mouth time to recover and make protective enzymes.
- – Drink plenty of water to stay hydrated and prevent dry mouth.
- – Avoid sugary drinks like soft drinks and sports drinks and limit juice.
The Link Between Oral Health and General Health
Starting your child on the right path to dental health also has long term benefits for their overall health. Oral health is linked to overall general health, meaning that maintaining healthy teeth can help to prevent other health problems such as heart disease, diabetes, and cancer.
The plaque found on teeth is surprisingly similar to the plaque that builds up in the arteries and causes heart disease. Poor oral health appears to have a direct correlation to poor cardiovascular health.
Oral health is also tied to diabetes, as the condition of your teeth can be an indicator that the disease is present. Certain symptoms and aspects of diabetes can lead to an increased risk in oral health problems.
Some studies have shown that there is a link between oral health and some types of cancer. The cause is not yet determined and the research is still new, but the connection is too strong to ignore.
The earlier a child begins receiving dental care, the greater the benefit for their overall health.
Give Your Child a Healthy Start with Savannah Dental Solutions
Looking for a pediatric dentist in Savannah, GA? Savannah Dental Solutions offers comprehensive dentistry for children and adults. The whole family can visit one dental office for their care, making it more convenient to make dental care a priority.
Call (912) 354-1366 today or contact us to schedule an appointment. We look forward to being an important part of your child’s lifelong dental health.
