Why Pediatric Dentist

As a parent, you have a lot on your plate. In addition to all of the daily tasks that go along with raising kids, you have to schedule appointments, plan fun events, and take care of your own work requirements. It’s a lot to handle, so it’s easy to be tempted by the easier path of just letting a few things slide. However, when it comes to visiting a pediatric dentist, it would be best if you resisted that temptation. There is a lot to be gained from taking your kids to the dentist, and it really won’t take that much time out of your day when all is said and done.

In this post, we are going to look at a few of the reasons why a visit to a pediatric dentist is worth your valuable time.

Setting the Stage for Long-Term Oral Health

We’ll start out by looking at this topic from a big-picture perspective. When you get into the habit of taking your child to the dentist regularly, that pattern will be set early in life and it will hopefully continue well into adulthood. Good oral health isn’t something that happens by accident – it happens as the result of proper oral hygiene at home as consistent visits to the dentist for check-ups and cleanings. If your child learns early on that his or her teeth are worth protecting, that lesson can continue to serve them well later in life. Dr. Jonathan Smith adds that children visiting a good pediatric dentist will have positive experiences that help them want to go to the dentist in the future.

Understanding Good Habits

There are a number of important steps that both parents and children need to understand while working toward good oral health. If you aren’t clear on how you should be caring for your child’s teeth on a day to day basis, it’s possible that you will run into trouble down the line with things like cavities and tooth decay. There isn’t anything too complicated about oral hygiene for children, but it’s good to speak directly with a pediatric dentist so everyone is on the same page. The points listed below are some keys to keep in mind regarding good habits for your child’s oral health.

  • Reducing sugary consumption. You may have heard this one before from your own dentist, and it certainly applies to children, as well. It’s important to keep your child’s consumption of sugary foods and drinks down to a minimal level. This will not only be beneficial for their oral health but also their overall health. One commonly seen problem is allowing children to go to bed with a bottle of juice or milk. Those beverages both have high concentrations of sugar and allowing such fluids to sit on their teeth overnight can have disastrous effects on the health of those teeth. Moving away from processed sugar is a smart adjustment to the diet of your child.
  • Regular brushing. This one is the same for children just as it is for adults. By regularly brushing their teeth, your child will be able to remove food particles, reduce harmful bacteria, and more. Of course, for small children, you will need to provide plenty of assistance at the start, until they learn how to manage the task on their own. Also, be sure to purchase a toothbrush that is intended specifically for children. These will often have a smaller head than an adult toothbrush, but a bigger handle. And, if you would like to make it a little easier to get your child interested in brushing his or her teeth, you may pick out a toothbrush that features one of their favorite characters.
  • Periodic visits. Just as you will be making time in your schedule to take your child to pediatric dental appointments, your child will learn that it’s important to do the same later in life. This is a good habit to establish early on because your child won’t see it as optional – it will be viewed as essential for good oral health. Also, rather than seeing the dental office as a scary or intimidating place to visit, your child will be comfortable with the environment and won’t hesitate later in life.

Spot Problems Early

For most children, pediatric dental care is pretty simple. They need to learn how to brush their teeth correctly, they need to be provided with the right foods by their parents or caregivers, etc. However, some kids will have oral health problems that need to be addressed and corrected. Keeping up with pediatric dental visits is important because any problems will be spotted early on, so a plan can be put into place to fix these issues. It’s much better to get out ahead of these issues rather than having to play catch up later on in life. Working together with your pediatric dentist to address abnormalities will give your child the best possible chance for an adult life filled with healthy teeth.

A Welcoming Environment

Some dental offices are more suitable for children than others. While a given office might state that they accept children as patients, that doesn’t necessarily mean they are equipped properly for this unique task. By going with a pediatric dentist who is motivated to provide excellent dental care to kids – and will go the extra mile to make them comfortable – you should have a better experience overall. There are a variety of nice things that a dental office can do for kids which will help them feel at home from the start. For instance, a play space in the lobby area will put the kids at ease while they wait and offering stickers or other small items after the appointment will leave the child with a positive memory.

Call Lakeside Dental Today!

If you are looking for a reliable, experienced pediatric dentist for your children, Lakeside Dental would be proud to serve you and your family. Contact our office today to learn more about our services or to schedule your first appointment. Thank you for your time and consideration!