3 Things Every Parent Needs To Know About Their Child's Teeth

Taking a young child to the dentist is very important. In fact, there are special dentists, called pediatric dentists, who have been trained to work specifically with children's teeth. Here are some things that you need to know about your child's oral health.

1. Even Young Children Can Get Cavities

Many people mistakenly think that young children do not get cavities. This is not true. In fact, many children require a good deal of dental work before they even lose their first tooth. This is because children's teeth are very sensitive, and children have more sugar in their diet than ever before.

For this reason, you should be taking your young child to the dentist as soon as their first tooth emerges. If you wait too long to see the dentist, your child could have major dental problems. There have even be some children, as young as 4 years old, who have had to have an entire tooth extracted. Thus, you should take your child in regularly so the dentist can determine any problems and correct them before they become too severe.

2. The Health Of Baby Teeth Will Affect Adult Teeth

If you think that just because baby teeth fall out, they are not important, you might be in a world of trouble. Even though baby teeth do fall out, the health of those teeth can affect the adult teeth. If there is decay to the tooth, especially to the root, it can cause damage to the gums. This damage causes the adult teeth to already be at a disadvantage when they grow in. In addition, gum disease is very dangerous, and young children can put themselves more at a risk with poor oral hygiene.

3. You Can Protect Your Child's Teeth

There are a couple things that parents can do to help protect their children's teeth. One of the best things you can do besides brushing and flossing daily is have sealant put on the teeth. If you see the dentist regularly, they will make sure that your child receives their sealant at the proper appointments. Usually, around the age of 6, the dentist will apply some sealant. Then you can get more sealant applied later in life. The sealant usually lasts about 10 years. This sealant will help to protect the teeth from cavities. All children should have sealant applied to their teeth.

By understanding the risks of poor oral health for a child, you can help to ensure your child visits a dentist, such as Myriam Cerezo DMD, often and is properly protected from long-term problems.