Did you know that students with oral health problems are three times more likely to miss school? Tooth decay is one of the most common chronic conditions in children with over 60% of children age 5 having already had at least one cavity.
Tooth decay is painful and distracting, and can cause your child to lose focus in school or even prevent them from participating in the class discussion. Luckily, there are a few simple ways that parents can fight tooth decay, and keep their kids in class.
Lack of a Pediatric Dental Home
(if you remove the above lines, the The AAPD cited the lack of dental home as one of the strongest factors correlating with childhood cavities. Parents can combat this by visiting pediatric dentists near them, and finding one that fits with their family.
Pediatric dentists care for children of all ages, and it’s important that children have a dental home by age 1. That way, your child has an oral healthcare plan from the second their first tooth emerges. A pediatric dentist can help your child navigate their first cavity, or even handle most dental emergencies such as a broken tooth.
Not Enough Early Dental Visits
When do you think your child should first visit the dentist – maybe after their first tooth emerges? Actually, the AAPD advises that parents visit the pediatric dentist before your child’s first tooth emerge. Infants require oral health care so that their baby teeth emerge healthy and strong. In fact, you should begin caring for your child’s gums long before their first tooth emerges, which is usually around the six-month mark of their life.
You should take your child for an informal dental appointment sometime before their first birthday. We suggest visiting around the 9 month mark.
Lack of Oral Healthcare Knowledge
One of the largest contributing factors to the tooth decay epidemic is the general lack in knowledge. Dentistry and oral healthcare can be difficult to understand, and can prevent a lot of parents from understanding how they can help their child. Luckily, parents can become more informed by visiting their family’s pediatric dentist, or visiting reliable sources of information such as the AAPD for actionable information.
Pediatric dental visits can benefit parents – sometimes, parents get more out of the visit then their children! Parents can use their visits as a time to learn proper oral care techniques, and dietary choices that will improve their child’s health.
Additionally, you can check out our blog for more information on popular pediatric dental topics, and ways that you can help your child.
Find a Pediatric Dentist Near You
Absences from school can lead to lower grades, and constant oral pain can cause developmental issues and negatively affect children’s confidence. Not only that, untreated tooth decay and cavities can lead to more serious illnesses later on in life. You can prevent oral illnesses by establishing a dental home now, and establishing a healthy oral healthcare routine for your child today. They should be brushing twice per day for two minutes each time, and flossing once daily.
If you don’t have a dental home, or are in search of a pediatric dentist, then use our handy tool on Dentists4Kids.com to help. Our listings display pediatric dentists near you, and will help you find a dentist that can work with your family.