Children's dentistry or pediatric dentistry deals with the oral health of children from infancy through teenage. Pediatric dentistry is crucial as children easily tend to develop cavities from eating a lot of sugary foods, such as chocolate and candy. They may also experience a change in the alignment of their teeth, giving rise to a malocclusion.
The best way to keep these in check is by taking your child for regular consultations to a pediatric dentist. Our dentists have undergone a few extra years of specialization and training in the concerned domain and would love to treat your child.
Your child's first visit
The milk teeth erupt as early as six months from birth. Many factors such as thumb sucking, breast-feeding, eating sugary foods, improper oral hygiene, etc. can affect the oral health of your child. During your child's first dental visit, the dentist would usually ask you to sit on the dental chair with your child so that they don't feel nervous during the procedure.
A thorough examination of the teeth and gums will be carried out to check for any signs of cavities, gum diseases, and malocclusion. If necessary, the dentist would take an x-ray of the mouth to check for signs of hidden cavities. In case there are any cavities present, we will disinfect them and apply a filling material to cover them. A topical fluoride paste may be applied on the teeth to make them stronger and help them stay immune to cavities. Tips would be given to the parents about how to care for their child's teeth, particularly regarding oral hygiene and the food they consume.
Brushing and flossing
Children tend to consume a lot of sugary foods such as chocolate, candies, gummy bears, chewing gum, etc. There is nothing wrong with consuming sugary foods. The issue lies in how long the sugary content is allowed to stay on your child's teeth. The longer it stays on the teeth, the higher the chances of your child developing cavities, as it provides the bacteria in the mouth something to feed on.
Parents must make sure their child is brushing thoroughly and regularly using a soft bristle toothbrush. This prevents any inflammation that might occur to the gums due to the use of hard bristles. Also, a toothpaste that is rich in fluoride should be used as it helps to fight cavities and makes the teeth stronger. Flossing removes the debris and microbes that have accumulated between the adjoining teeth.
Malocclusion
Malocclusion is the misalignment of teeth. A considerable proportion of children in the USA suffer from malocclusion, which could be the direct result of thumb sucking, heredity, issues with the jawbone, etc. Dentists all over the world agree that it is best to treat malocclusion at an early stage as it allows the teeth to move much easier compared to the teeth of adults. Also, the result of the treatment is more satisfactory and aesthetically pleasing. We can help your children get rid of their malocclusion by providing them with orthodontic dental appliances such as braces or Invisalign, which are proven to be highly effective.
Our dentists are some of the best when it comes to children's dentistry. They are friendly, compassionate, and know exactly how to handle young patients.
To have a consultation with our dentists, please schedule an online appointment or call us, and we will be happy to help.
