Tooth decay is chronic among children in the United States. One way to avoid decay, which can lead to other oral and systemic problems, is by encouraging a lifetime of diligent oral hygiene in your children, and this is best done by starting them young. You can start getting your newborn used to dental care within a few days after their birth. What dental care entails for a newborn is simply wiping their gums gently with a soft piece of wet gauze after each feeding. It is important to remove the sticky residue left over from formula or breast milk. But this is not the only thing you can do when starting them young. Read on to find out more.
Statistics
Don’t let your child become a statistic. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), tooth decay impacts more than 40 percent of children by the time they enter kindergarten. There are ways to prevent this. In addition to cleaning your child’s gums before their teeth erupt, once their first tooth erupts you can purchase an infant toothbrush and toothpaste and begin brushing their tooth. Brush after each meal and before bedtime. It is also important to schedule their first dental visit on or before their first birthday.
Pediatric Dentistry
Pediatric dentistry focuses on getting your child use to the dental office, environment, and people while preventing oral disease, such as cavities from developing. It also educates you and your child regarding proper oral hygiene methods. As your child grows, there are ways to help prevent cavities and or accidents from occurring such as:
- Fluoride treatments: Fluoride helps strengthen tooth enamel making it harder for cavities to form.
- Dental sealants: Sealants are a liquid plastic painted over the tooth to protect it from food debris and oral bacteria.
- Athletic mouthguards: Are used to protect your child’s teeth during sports activities
- Orthodontics: Can be in the form of spacers, braces, or retainers to help straighten teeth or keep teeth straight.
ABOUT YOUR AUSTIN, MN, DENTIST:
Our team offers our patients and their family access to comprehensive dental care, including general, cosmetic, and restorative dentistry. To schedule an appointment with the Potach and Mitchell Dental Clinic, contact our Austin, MN dental office today by calling 507-437-6312. Our office welcomes patients from Austin, MN and surrounding communities.
