Keep Children Healthy With Regular Dental Check-Ups
November 22, 2016
November is Child Safety Protection Month and at Dr. McIntyre’s office we believe that oral health is a big part of keeping your kids safe. Teaching your kids good oral hygiene habits while they are young can protect their teeth in the future. As parents it’s your responsibility to set good habits and encourage good hygiene.
Prevention Means Healthier Mouths
Many problems can be addressed before they get out of control if they are caught early. Once children have teeth, a dentist can give advice about what should be cut out of their diets and when. For example, a dentist may teach you the proper way to brush a child’s teeth, why it’s important for kids to drink from a cup around their first birthday and why falling asleep with a bottle of juice or milk can lead to tooth decay.
Tooth decay is the most chronic disease among children in the United States. The Center for Disease and Control reports that forty percent of children will have significant tooth decay before they reach kindergarten. Although permanent teeth are formed from the ages of 0-3 years, they may not come through until later in life. Children are at an increased risk of cavities during the time when their mouths are made up of a mixture of permanent and baby teeth. Regular dental visits and check-ups can help determine where problems exist and how to treat them.
Children learn their oral health habits from two sources: their parents and their dental professionals. Bringing your child to the dentist regularly when they are young teaches them to not fear the process and to be excited about getting their mouths checked. The earlier you start the less your child is likely to experience anxiety associated with dental visits.
Protect Your Child’s Safety
There are so many things you have to watch out for as a parent, but we make it easy to protect your child’s health through good oral hygiene. Call us today to schedule an appointment for your child with Dr. McIntyre.