As a kid, there were probably few things you disliked more than having to go to the dentist. You were poked and prodded and given all kinds of reminders about dental hygiene; everything from remembering to floss to remembering to brush your teeth at least twice a day to eating sweets in moderation to keep all the sugar from eating away at your teeth.
While kids might grow tired of being constantly reminded of things, like all those dentist tips, there’s a lot of benefit to going to the dentist. In fact, dentistry is considered one of the most trustworthy professions in the United States and technological advances have made going to the dentist more of an enjoyable experience and not something to be afraid of.
If you’re a parent and you’re looking for a dentist for children in your area, you should know there are many benefits to getting set up with a pediatric dentist. A pediatric dentist for children and deals exclusively with children. A pediatric dentist can teach your child about dentistry and help them see that the dentist is someone who is trustworthy and can be a friendly face.
Benefits of visiting a dentist for children include:
- Doing things right: It can be hard for kids, especially younger kids, to establish a steady oral hygiene routine. Aside from trying to keep their attention, some children not know exactly what to do when it comes to floss, use mouthwash or brush their teeth properly. Fortunately, a dentist for children has both the time and the patience to teach children the proper way to do things, from flossing to brushing to what kinds of foods they can eat to keep their teeth strong and healthy.
- Cleaning: Regardless of what a child might think about going to the dentist, there’s no doubt of the importance of teeth cleaning. Even if you child has good dental hygiene habits, a proper teeth cleaning is still necessary. Why is that? A proper teeth cleaning protects the teeth and gives them the type of deep clean they can’t get at home. Cleaning can strengthen enamel, eliminate plaque and tartar buildup and even improve a smile.
Think about all the food and beverage ads and commercials you see aimed at kids. They promise great taste and fun. That’s especially true of sports drink and energy drinks today. In fact, researchers found that exposure to energy drinks such as Rockstar, Monster, and Red Bull resulted in twice as much enamel loss as exposure to sports drinks such as Powerade, Gatorade, and Propel (3.1% to 1.5%). The numbers all speak to one thing: the importance of a good teeth cleaning. - Comfort: Perhaps the biggest benefit of getting set up with a pediatric dentist (at least for parents) is that your child or children will learn the dentist office can be a comfortable place. An experienced dentist for children will be friendly with your child, taking the time to get to know them and will explain to them exactly what they’re doing and why it’s good for their oral health, thereby helping them establish good habits they can practice at home.
- Teaching about the importance of oral health: Studies have found that high numbers of kids (think between 60 and 90%) have cavities. Fortunately, visiting a dentist for children can help your child learn why it’s so important to have good oral health. The dentist will check for cavities, tooth decay, gum decay and other issues. Some of those issues can be hard to spot or manage without a dentist’s help. If your child is a little stubborn about brushing and flossing, a dentist for children can be a friendly voice that explains why those things are important.
If you’re a parent who’s dreading taking your child or children to the dentist, dread no more. A reputable and experienced pediatric dentist can make everything much easier. They can reinforce some of the things you’ve been trying to teach at home and ultimately show your kids why practicing good oral hygiene habits is essential.
