The Importance of a Pediatric Dentist

Just as you need routine services like doctor and dentist visits, so does your child. Actually, they might need it more so! Pediatric dentistry is the study and care of children’s oral health. A pediatric dentist will be able to examine your child’s teeth and make steps to prevent serious dental issues. For instance, pediatric dentists can identify current dental issues, as well as predict what issues may arise in the future. For instance, a child’s dentist can notify you if their teeth are misaligned, if there are structural problems, or if decay could be an issue in their near future.

In this blog, we will discuss how a pediatric dentist is essential to the state of your child’s oral health. By bringing your child into the dentist, you can ensure that you can keep an eye on their oral health and make changes to their care if necessary.

Does an Infant Need a Dentist?

Infants, though their teeth haven’t grown in all the way, need their own dentists. It may sound odd, but they do need them! Why? Infant are susceptible to tooth decay, just like older children, and even adults!

Infants are vulnerable to a variety of dental problems, even at such a young age. Worse, because they don’t know how to speak or identify what the problem is, they have no way of communicating what is wrong.

If you bring your infant or toddler into a pediatric dentist, they will be able to notify you if there is a problem or if there is a chance for a problem. For instance, many children can develop a form of tooth decay that can be troublesome for the development of their teeth. Baby Bottle Tooth Decay is a very common type of tooth decay that is prevalent in young children. Your pediatric dentist will be able to identify the issue and find a way to fix the problem. But, what is this decay, and how does it start?

Baby Bottle Tooth Decay

This genre of infantile dental decay, called baby bottle tooth decay, happens when sugar deposits get stuck to an infant’s teeth for an extended period of time. These sugars can come from anything from milk, formula, and even fruit juice. As your child drinks, the sugars can bond to their teeth and form problems later. Of course, as a small child, brushing their teeth can be a struggle. Most parents find it easier to do a sub-par dental cleaning at night and “call it a day.” But, because parents are not brushing their child’s teeth to the fullest, they are allowing those sugar deposits on their child’s teeth to turn into acids that will attack their growing teeth.

In your child’s mouth are millions of tiny bits of bacteria. When sugar is allowed to stay glued to their teeth, or where the teeth are growing in, they can transform into acid. These acids can attack your child’s teeth or growing-in teeth.

Baby bottle decay is a common dental issue, but should be prevented at all costs. After all, you don’t want your child’s teeth to come in with dental problems already present.

Preventing Child’s Tooth Decay

One of the best ways to prevent your baby from developing tooth decay is to wipe their gums with clean gauze after feeding them. You may get some squirms or screeches, but at least you can rest easy knowing that you wipe off any sugar residue from their gums or incoming teeth.

Unlike adults, babies and young children don’t need to brush their teeth with toothpaste for the first few months. As their parent, you should be brushing your child’s teeth when their first tooth comes in. If you want to use toothpaste, however, you should use fluoride-free paste for the first few brushes.

Once your child is old enough to use fluoride toothpaste, you should be making sure that they are getting enough fluoride. This chemical lessens the likelihood of cavities in your child’s teeth. Of course, fluoride doesn’t guarantee your child won’t get cavities, but it does significantly help the situation.

As a parent, you are the one that is ensuring your child’s health, of course, this doesn’t involve just their teeth. You are responsible for making sure your child is happy and healthy in a manner of ways. However, since most parents don’t have a degree in pediatric dentistry, it makes sense to turn to a professional.

The Smile Zone Pediatric Dentistry

Even if there isn’t a problem with your child’s teeth, you should book a check-up appointment with your local Wilmington pediatric dentist. They will be able to examine your child’s teeth and ensure they are healthy. Check-ups will help indicate if there is an issue and your child’s pediatric dentist will be able to provide you with solutions to remedy the problem. If you would like to sign up for an appointment on behalf of your child, contact The Smile Zone today! We have pediatric dentists that are happy to examine your child’s teeth.