While parents are constantly ensuring the health and safety of their children, the dentist is often overlooked. Parents either misunderstand the importance of early dental care or they, themselves, were raised without attention to early pediatric dentistry. In fact, one out of every four kids has never been to the dentist before they set foot in a kindergarten classroom. More than a third of U.S. schools find it necessary to refer kids for treatment of dental problems. Pediatric dentistry is important for the following reasons.
Provides your child with a proper dental care routine
Children first learn about the important or lack of dental care from their parents. If they are not provided with good dental instruction early in life, it can be difficult to introduce these changes later on in life. This is actually why many adults do not practice good dental health. It was simply not a priority when they were a child. However, you can break this trend by introducing your child to dental health early on. Take them into a pediatric dentistry center from the time you identify their first tooth. Teach them about proper brushing and flossing techniques.
Increases their dental health
The earlier that your child is exposed to the dentist, the better their dental health will be. Many adults currently suffer from dental problems, whether it is oral pain, chronic cavities, or other dental problems. Pain free dentistry starts with early pediatric dentistry visits. Regular and comprehensive dental exams can identify any dental or oral problems with your child early on. This could also reduce their chance of needing extensive dental work in the future.
Protects their teeth and makes them stronger
Regular dental care also produces stronger teeth. Stronger teeth are more resilient to dental accidents and injuries. Life would seem awfully dull in many communities without the presence of children?s sports teams. Yet, as many as 39% of dental injuries occur while kids are playing sports, according to Colgate. While proper dental protection is important during sporting activities, regular dental care is also necessary. If an injury does occur, the results are likely to be less drastic.
Increases academic success
How are teeth and academic success related? Oral health can actually directly correlate with academic success. Children who have dental problems or chronic dental pain are more likely to miss many days of school. Additionally, poor dental health can reduce overall confidence levels. Children who are not as confident in their academic studies tend to not do as well. Children may be subject to bullying or poor social relationships due to their poor dental care routines. This lack of confidence can also carry over into adulthood. Nearly three quarters (74%) of adults feel an unattractive smile can hurt their career success.
Faster and more affordable corrective procedures
Corrective dental procedures, such as braces can be very expensive. However, you are likely to find that they are even more expensive when routine dental care is not kept up. For example, 6 month braces may be an option for some children. Yet, if the child also requires cavity fillings, the process is longer and more expensive. These costs also accumulate over the years. An adult who has not visited a dentist in many years is likely to have a very high dental bill, once they do visit.
A large percentage of the U.S. population is afraid of and avoids the dentist. This, however, becomes a huge problem, when that same avoidance is passed onto children. Children require early pediatric dentistry care to ensure a healthy smile. Children are also exposed to physical sports that can further damage their oral health. Chronic dental problems reduce academic performance. There are many reasons why it is so important to introduce good oral health to your child early on.
