With soccer games, school plays, and family obligations, it can be easy to think about skipping your child’s twice a year dental check-ups.
It may seem like a lot of time with the dentist, but those regular exams benefit you and your kids in many ways.
Many oral problems are preventable. Your child’s dentist is your best partner in establishing healthy habits for prevention and spotting problems early.
Keep reading to see why you need to schedule a regular dental exam for everyone in the family.
ESTABLISH RELATIONSHIPS WITH DENTIST
When you schedule a regular dental tooth cleaning twice a year, you and your child gradually get to know their dentist better. This helps build trust and makes them feel more comfortable talking to their dentist.
For kids, that early relationship can help them avoid feeling scared when going to the dentist. It can give them confidence when they have future appointments, especially if they need dental work.
The relationship also lets your child’s dentist get to know you and your child’s special needs. When your child sees the same dentist each time, they have a set of dental records to track their oral health.
Your child’s dentist can look up past exam notes and X-rays easily. This helps you get continuous, personalized care based on their dental history.
LEARN PROPER ORAL CARE
Are you sure your kids are brushing and flossing properly?
Their pediatric dentist can help them learn these proper techniques.
If you’re unsure of how to teach your kids proper oral hygiene, listen up to the dentist at appointments. Don’t be afraid to ask questions. Your kid’s dentist is a rich resource for dental care knowledge.
If you have an older child who doesn’t like to brush, hearing about the importance of oral care from the dentist may make a difference. Sometimes kids need to hear it from someone outside the family.
Learning how to care for teeth from a young age makes it second nature for your kids. They’ll grow up understanding what they need to do to keep their teeth healthy.
KEEP TEETH CLEAN AND HEALTHY
You brush and floss regularly to keep your teeth clean, but you also need a professional deeper clean regularly. The same goes for kids!
Hygienists have special tools to remove any built-up plaque and tartar. Those things can affect your kid’s teeth, even with regular oral care.
Removing plaque and tartar is crucial for preventing tooth decay, which is a major problem for all ages.
In kids 2 to 11, cavities in primary teeth affect 42% in that group. In ages 12 to 19, the occurrence of cavities in permanent teeth is 59% of the population. The rate for adults ages 20 to 64 jumps to 92%.
Simply scheduling regular dental appointments to get the plaque and tartar professionally removed can reduce your child’s risks of cavities.
Regular dental cleanings leave your child’s teeth looking better, which makes them more confident in their smile. They may also help improve their breath.
SPOT DENTAL PROBLEMS EARLY
Cavities happen, even when you do all the right things to take care of your child’s teeth. Their dentist can spot those issues early to tackle them before they become worse.
Early detection can save you a lot of money and your child a lot of discomforts. Fixing a minor cavity is much easier and cheaper than waiting until the decay spreads or causes an infection. You’ll also help them avoid the pain that sometimes comes with tooth decay.
ENSURE PROPER TOOTH DEVELOPMENT
For kids especially, proper tooth development is essential. As a parent, you may not know what’s normal. But your child’s dentist knows exactly how things should develop.
Baby teeth are just as important as permanent teeth, even though they won’t stick around long. When your child’s baby teeth stay healthy, the permanent teeth are healthier.
As the permanent teeth start to grow, the dentist watches for problems, such as overcrowding and incorrect positioning. Early orthodontic care can correct those development issues while they’re easier to manage.
When you go to regular check-ups, the dentist has a record of the changes in teeth. This can make it easier to spot a problem early.
SCHEDULE REGULAR CHECK-UPS
With so many reasons to get dental check-ups, why are you waiting? Scheduling regular appointments for yourself and your kids helps keep your teeth healthy and helps correct problems early before they become major.
Schedule an appointment with us today to get your kids caught up on their dental care routine.