5 Reasons Your ONE-Year-Old Should go to a Pediatric Dentist
The moment your baby’s first tooth pokes through, you may start wondering when your baby should visit the dentist. Today, we’ll look at 5 reasons to take your child to the dentist now. While you are busy celebrating all the firsts, do not forget your child’s first dental visit.
Drive a feather around the house. Or, if it is not at hand, imagine. Now raise the feather in the palm of your hand to the level of your mouth, take a deep breath and blow on it – so that it rises into the air as high as possible. Further, your task is to keep it from falling for as long as possible uncover your voice. Blow on the pen while you can. At the end of this long exhalation, you should feel an urgent need to inhale immediately. Sing any note at a relatively high volume. Hold this sound for as long as you can. To check the effectiveness of this workout, you will need a stopwatch. Record the time during which you can sing a note. And then watch how every day this time increases a little.
When should I start taking my child to the dentist?
- According to the American Academy of Pediatrics and the American Board of Pediatric Dentistry, children should ideally visit a pediatric dentist by the time they turn ONE. Infants that have their first dental visit at age one are shown to have less dental decay and lower dental costs throughout their childhood
- The first visit is not merely focused on the child being checked for dental disease but to also acclimate your child to the dental setting. Children who do not visit the dentist until they suffer from tooth decay or cavities are more likely to be fearful of the dentist. During these initial visits, a child becomes familiar with the dentist’s chair and equipment. A pediatric dentist’s office includes colorful toys, video games, and goodie bags for the little visitors to make them feel comfortable. Each visit to the dentist reinforces positive experiences introduces the child to the dentist, the staff, and the environment in a healthy manner.
- Another important reason to visit a pediatric dental office is to learn about at home preventative care. This first visit educates the parents about issues like baby bottle tooth decay, feeding patterns and diet, finger-sucking and pacifier habits, teething, and dental care practices recommended for your child. At home is the most important step to oral health so learning the correct habits and techniques is essential
- During routine exams, your pediatric dentist evaluates many aspects of your child’s oral health including the health of the teeth, gums, and surrounding oral structures like the tongue and lips. Exams also address proper growth and development of the entire oral structure. All of these structures can affect your child’s ability to eat, speak, breath, and be well. It is often much easier and less costly to address any issues early on so timely visits are vital for early detection.
- Parents are sometimes mistaken in the idea that baby teeth are not important because they are temporary and eventually replaced. Baby teeth are very essential in many ways such as allowing your child to develop proper speech, eat well, and guide the eruption of permanent teeth into the proper position. The health of baby teeth also predict and affect the health of permanent teeth
Take Your Child to the Dentist Every Six Months
Ideally, a child should visit the dentist once every six months after the initial visit. You can expect your pediatric dentist to monitor all aspects of your child’s oral health and development at each subsequent visit.. Make an appointment with Dr. Audrey Sheu at Hacienda Pediatric Dentistry dentist today!