If you are a parent, then you may be ready for the rewarding but challenging experience ahead. You are going to be taking care of your child’s well-being until they can take care of themselves. One aspect that shouldn’t be forgotten is their oral health. You’ll need to make sure you keep their growing smile healthy, but what exactly should you know? Thankfully, these five facts about kids’ tiny teeth can help you better understand how to protect them.
1.) Oral Care Starts Before Their Baby Teeth Come In
As you get ready to take care of your loved one’s grin, you may be able to start their dental hygiene before their baby teeth erupt. In their infancy, it’s important to use a soft cloth to wipe their gums. This will help remove harmful bacteria in their mouth and prevent them from building up.
2.) Kids Need a Checkup as Soon as Their First Baby Tooth Erupts
While baby teeth aren’t permanent, they set up their adult ones later on. You should schedule a checkup for your child as soon as their first one appears or no later than their first birthday. This will ensure that their growing smile is in great shape to help them with chewing, speaking, and guiding their permanent teeth when they start to erupt.
3.) Cavities Are the Most Common Dental Problem in Kids
When you were younger, you might remember the importance of preventing cavities, and that hasn’t changed! This oral health issue is still common in children. For kids between 5 and 11 in the U.S., one in five has untreated tooth decay. As they get older, between 12 and 19, that number drops down to one in seven.
4.) Decay Can Be Caused by Things Other Than Candy
You might be tempted to blame candy as a culprit for cavities, but they aren’t the only reason for them! Cookies, crackers, bread, and other starchy items can cause this dental problem as well! That’s because saliva breaks down the carbohydrates into sugar, which feeds bacteria in the mouth. These germs will then produce an acid that can wear down their enamel and create a cavity.
5.) Your Child’s Academics Can Be Affected by Poor Oral Health
Poor oral health might be frustrating to deal with as an adult, but it can have a big impact on a child. They may be more likely to skip days to get the care they need. In fact, 51 million school hours are lost every year because of dental problems (according to The New York State Department of Health).
Keep these five facts in mind while you take care of your loved one’s growing smile. Set a good example and encourage proper oral hygiene to help your child have strong teeth as they get older.
About the Author
Dr. Steven Pike earned his dental degree from the University of Southern California School of Dentistry. He has over 15 years of experience helping kids get the best grins they deserve. By offering a wide range of pediatric treatments to the Portland community, Dr. Pike can help your loved one develop great dental habits that give them a happy smile for a lifetime. If you want to know how to care for your child’s teeth better, schedule an appointment or call his office at (503) 297-1711.