Learn More About Pediatric Dental Care From O’Fallon Dentist
You only have one smile, so you want to make sure that you’re doing everything you can to keep your teeth and gums healthy for life. Our O’Fallon dentists have found that pediatric dental care can make all the difference for young patients as they transition into adolescence and adulthood. Keep reading to learn about the basics of dental care for kids.
Your kid’s first set of teeth are his or her primary, or “baby,” teeth. These teeth are temporary; they will fall out naturally as your child ages. But don’t think that because these teeth are temporary they do not require thorough and diligent care. You want to help your child achieve and maintain a healthy smile from day one.
Primary teeth serve a number of important roles in your child’s development:
· They allow your child to keep trying new foods and expand his or her diet
· They enable your child to enunciate and develop healthy speech patterns
· They fill space along your child’s gum line so that adult teeth can easily emerge when the time comes
· They can help your child develop healthy oral hygiene practices before he or she is tasked with caring for permanent teeth
Additionally, if your child does not take care of his or her teeth, dental infections could spread from the tooth structure to the gum tissues, connectives tissues, and even the jawbones. When this happens the permanent structure of the child’s smile is undermined—rampant infections can cause serious long-lasting damage that’s tough to treat.
Take the time now to teach your child about brushing, flossing, and completing professional dental cleanings. When your children have positive experiences in the dentist’s chair, they are more likely to keep up with preventive and restorative treatments as adults.
Our O’Fallon dentists are happy to provide you with any additional information that you may need. We are here to support you as you guide your child through the dental care process!