It was so long ago for most of us, but if you have a child you may want to educate yourself on the three most common issues found in baby teeth, to help your kiddos avoid them! Knowledge is power, but that alone will not keep your child’s teeth as healthy as possible; The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry (AAPD) recommends that a child go to the dentist by age 1 or within six months after the first tooth erupts. Primary teeth typically begin growing in around 6 months of age.
Check out this list of the top three issues with baby teeth, then call our office and schedule your family in for a preventive care visit!
1) Tooth decay/ Cavities
Cavities are the number one most common oral hygiene issue we see in children. The good news is that when your child is consistently brought in for their 6 month cleaning, exams, and x- rays, we catch them early and they are almost always treatable! On the other hand, if a child is not receiving regular dental care and a cavity is left to decay into their tooth, we see a plethora of issues including but not limited to: pain, infections, speech issues, malnutrition, troubles chewing, etc…, which is why catching them early and staying on top of your child’s oral health is our goal!
2) Injury
If you have a kiddo then you know that falls, accidents, bumps and bruises are just par for the course; If you did not acquire a good chin scar during your child- hoof than you did not play hard enough! Unfortunately when those falls are more serious they can lead to troubling bodily and sometimes even oral injuries/ dental emergencies: chipped teeth, cracked teeth, and even missing teeth. As a parent their is only so much we can do to protect our children from their own thrill seeking curiosities and bad habits, but insisting on things like safely equipment (mouth-guards, helmets, etc…) can go a long way, as well as discouraging harmful treats like hard candies and jaw breakers.
3) Congenital issues
Some things are just out of our hands, like congenital issues, which is another reason why bringing your kids in to see a professional at least twice a year is urged. Our doctors and team are trained to recognize and develop treatment plans for things like improper tooth development, unusual tooth position, abnormal shape or size, or even missing teeth with improper development in the jawbone.
We know we do not have to tell you that daily oral care maintenance is crucial (brushing and flossing), but we know that things like that are easier said than done when it comes to kids. If you are looking for a way to encourage your children to brush properly ask about our kids Sonicare electric toothbrush and interactive blue tooth application that make brushing fun during your next appointment! Since Flatirons Family Dental & Orthodontics, your Superior CO dentist, offers comprehensive, full-service dental and orthodontic treatments, we are able to accommodate your family more conveniently!