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May 26, 2022Many parents believe that looking after their child’s milk teeth is not essential, as they will ultimately be replaced by the permanent successors. That is why many parents do not take their child to a dentist for preventive checkups in their early years. Others only visit the dentist once their child develops a dental problem and requires dental treatment. The fact is that regular dental checkups during childhood are as essential as during adult life. This blog discusses the importance and benefits of regular dental visits during childhood.
1. Preventing Oral Health Problems
At every checkup appointment, your child’s dentist will perform a thorough clinical exam and diagnose any underlying problems. In this way, they detect dental problems in early stages and treat them before they cause permanent problems. For example, if the dentist sees that your child is at a higher risk of developing tooth decay, they may apply a fluoride varnish to make them more resistant against bacterial attack.
2. Promoting Good Oral Health
Your child’s dentist will closely monitor their tooth development and jaw growth pattern, right from early age. In this way, if they detect any underlying issue, they will take measures to correct it. For example, the dentist will teach your child how to brush their teeth properly to prevent gum disease and tooth decay. At the same time, they will also educate the parents regarding a tooth-friendly diet and best oral hygiene practices for kids.
3. Ensuring Optimal Physical Health
Did you know that your child’s physical health and wellbeing are directly linked to their oral health status? If there are underlying problems in the oral cavity, they can travel to other body parts and cause systemic complications. Besides, teeth are essential to optimal chewing and digestion. If your child has chipped or broken teeth, they will not be able to digest food properly. As a result, it can have a direct influence on their physical health. When you take your kid to the dentist, they will ensure optimal dental function of your child’s teeth by preventing teeth cavities and gum problems.
4. Old Habits Die Hard!
Whatever children learn during their early years tends to stay with them for life. When you take your child regularly for dental checkups during their early years, their dentist will inculcate the importance of good oral hygiene maintenance in them. Besides, they will also teach them the importance of brushing and flossing, so that they can retain their pearly whites throughout life.
5. Ensuring Uninterrupted Eruption of the Permanent Teeth
Did you know that your child’s milk teeth also serve as placeholders for their permanent successors? The primary teeth hold the space for the underlying permanent teeth, and erupt just at the right time when the permanent ones are about to appear. Your child’s dentist will also ensure that the milk teeth remain healthy and retain sufficient space for the eruption of the permanent teeth.
In case a primary tooth is lost prematurely, the neighboring primary teeth fill in the gap. As a result, the eruption pathway for the underlying permanent tooth is occluded, resulting in its appearance at irregular position in the oral cavity. That is why dentists place space maintainers in vacant spaces left behind by prematurely lost milk teeth to ensure that the permanent successor erupts without interruption.
The American Dental Association recommends parents bring their children to a dentist after their first tooth appears, but no later than their first birthday. Afterward, parents must take children for regular dental checkups throughout their childhood and adult life. Regular dental visits ensure that your child remains healthy and enjoys a pearly white smile and help save time and money on avoidable, expensive dental procedures. To find a pediatric dentist near you, or for more information regarding dental health for kids, head over to the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry website.