Children's dentistry helps kids maintain oral health

Children's dentistry helps kids maintain oral health

Hopefully, by instilling in their minds that having healthy gums and teeth contributes greatly to their overall health, and setting a good example by showing them that you brush your teeth religiously, your children will eventually learn to care for their own teeth themselves. Children's dentistry helps  prevent tooth decay and ensures that young patients enjoy a pain- and embarrassment-free smile.

Oral hygiene starts at home and is important in ensuring that teeth last a lifetime the way they are meant to be, but it's not enough to maintain oral health. A visit to the dentist is a must if you want your kids to have healthy gums and teeth. Problem is, kids usually dread going to the dentist, and even dentists themselves who were also children once no doubt experienced dental phobia. This is the reason why children's very first dental visit must be a positive experience so they will develop a healthy attitude towards children's dentistry.

Ideally, your children should see a dentist when the first teeth erupt.

Babies may begin teething at around 3 months old, but usually, the first set of teeth don't show up until they are about 6 or 7 months old. Dentists dealing with kids make use of safe, relaxing and child-friendly techniques to make children's dentistry as comfortable and positive as possible. Some dentists practicing children's dentistry even have toys and playhouse built at a designated area in their clinics to amuse their young visitors.

Children's dentistry involves coaxing young patients to go through dental procedures in a gentle, soothing manner. Their philosophy is not to rush young patients to complete the treatments; instead, the dentist first tries to gain their trust before the procedures are performed. The staff themselves were trained how to deal with young patients, overall contributing to an environment that is fun and non-threatening.

To protect teeth from decay, children's dentistry often makes use of dental sealants.  Fluoride treatments are also a major component of children's dentistry  as they make the teeth more resistant to erosion and decay.

Some children have dental problems as overcrowding and malocclusions or "bad bite." Children's dentistry often employs orthodontics to address these problems.  Children as young as 7 years old may be perfect candidates for dental braces, although orthodontic treatments may be delayed until the child is around 11-13 years old or until most of the permanent teeth have erupted.