Did you know that tooth decay is the most common chronic childhood disease? According to the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry, tooth decay ranks higher than asthma, allergies, obesity and diabetes in children. When compared to these other popular childhood diseases, it?s been reported that tooth decay is five times more likely to develop than asthma, four times more likely than early-childhood obesity and 20 times more likely than diabetes. What?s the solution? Consistent dental care. Read on to discover the importance of taking your children to the pediatric dentist and how to help your kids develop good dental practices.
You would think that getting consistent dental care for your children would be a no-brainer, right? Well, not so much. In fact, one out of every four kids have never even set foot in a pediatric dental practice before they enter Kindergarten. This results in students missing out on more than 51 million school hours each year because of dental-related illnesses, according to the Centers for Health and Health Care in Schools.
Even though a third of U.S. schools are working to combat the issue by referring students to quality dental care, there?s still a variety of ways parents can take the initiative to improve their child?s dental health. Here are the top benefits of consistent dental care and how having the right pediatric dentist will help to form good habits for your child:
- Early Detection
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, nearly one out of every five children in America live with untreated cavities. This averages out to about 19.5% for ages 2-5 and 22.9% for ages 6-19, meaning that 78% of people will have a cavity by the age of 17! All of this can easily be avoided by looking into consistent dental care for your children and it?s never too early to start. Take your children to a state-of-the-art pediatric dental care facility and discover how early detection can go a long way toward preventing dental issues from getting out of hand.
- Routine Cleanings
Brushing your teeth can only go so far. To ensure teeth remain healthy and strong, pediatric dentists highly recommend routine visits every six months for a thorough cleaning. Consistent dental care will not only benefit your children?s dental health, but it will also teach them helpful techniques for at-home brushing. Since a pediatric dentist specializes in working with children, they know the best way to develop good habits and will provide you with tips on how to help your kids practice good dental hygiene at home.
- Monitor Treatments
If your child requires braces or additional dental care, it?s important to maintain consistent dental care with a pediatric dentist. You may have questions that need to be answered at a moment?s notice or want a recommendation on follow-up dental care. Whatever your child?s dental health requires, sticking with a pediatric dentist throughout the entire process will ensure a successful end result and a beautiful smile on your child?s face.
How have your children benefitted from consistent dental care? Share in the comments below.
