October is National Dental Hygiene Month, and your children’s dentist in Center, Dr. Youngblood, has one thing in mind: protecting the littlest teeth in your family. Did you know the prevention of cavities and infection is more important than ever during childhood? Sure, the baby teeth will fall out and be replaced by permanent ones, but that doesn’t mean we shouldn’t protect them while they’re here.
Why We Should Keep Baby Teeth Healthy
The primary, or baby, teeth are the first set of teeth we get. They appear in babies beginning around six months of age and begin to fall out around age six or seven. Baby teeth are usually lost in the same order that they appear – and when a tooth is present beneath the gum line, each baby tooth is replaced by a permanent one. The last baby teeth are lost by age 11 or 12.
Why keep the primary teeth if they’ll be replaced by new ones, anyway? Because healthy teeth during childhood are crucial to your little one’s proper growth and development. Tooth decay can negatively impact a child’s self-confidence, and their nutrition may also be affected by aching teeth. The presence of bacteria in the mouth can affect a child’s overall health, too. If good hygiene habits are not developed early in childhood, it becomes more difficult to change them later on.
Preventing Cavities and Infection Is Easy
Fortunately, it’s not so difficult to prevent problems in your child’s smile. Help her understand the importance of good dental hygiene, and let her see you leading by example. If you meet resistance in the brushing and flossing department, make it a family affair. Gather everyone to brush and floss together in the morning and at night. Your little one will be more likely to clean her teeth when she sees everyone else doing it.
Talk about limiting sugar, and encourage good habits like rinsing the mouth with water after eating sweet snacks and treats. Let your little one know that while it’s perfectly fine to indulge once in awhile, moderation is key to good oral and overall health. And there’s never a better time to have that discussion than during October, when sweet treats abound!
Stay on Top of Checkups and Cleanings
There is one thing your little one can’t do for herself, and that’s call the dentist to schedule an appointment for preventive dental care. When was your child’s last checkup and cleaning? Remember that these visits are vital to protecting her smile throughout childhood. We will remove the plaque and tartar buildup that cause cavities and infection, check her mouth for potential orthodontic issues, provide important education for better hygiene at home, and also help with extra preventive measures. Dental sealants and fluoride treatments are additional treatments for protecting her teeth from cavities. They’re painless procedures performed at the end of the checkup and cleaning – and they provide years of protection from decay.
October is National Dental Hygiene Month, and there’s never been a better time to schedule an appointment with the kids’ dentist in Center! Request an appointment for your little one today.