Did you know that 42 percent of children between the ages of 2 and 11 in the United States of America have cavities? Taking care of your children’s teeth is vital for their health and wellbeing, and there are certain steps that you should take in order to get them the care that they need. There are a lot of myths out there about proper children’s oral health and it is important that you know the truth.
Loose teeth in children are common, but you need to know the answer to “Do children need to visit a dentist” in order to prevent children’s cavities and other oral health issues.
The good news is that you’re in the right place to get the truth behind these myths when it comes to taking your child to a pediatric dentist. Keep reading to learn more about healthy teeth in kids.
- Dental Visits Aren’t Necessary Until Problems Arise
The main myth that you’ll encounter when you have children is that you don’t need to take your children to the pediatric dentist until issues pop up. It is common for first-time parents to avoid scheduling an appointment for children’s oral health because they don’t think it is important or needed.
Other parents will skip checkup appointments as a way to save money. If you avoid these appointments with the pediatric dentist then you’re allowing manageable and minor issues to grow into big and dangerous problems. If you need a checkup of your own for dental health then you should bring your child along to get their teeth looked at as well.
Make an effort to introduce your child to oral health because it will prevent issues down the line like children’s cavities and other health issues. The best way to boost children’s oral health is by taking them for consistent checkups with a pediatric dentist. You can read more here about the importance of seeing a pediatric dentist.
- Brushing Harder Equals Cleaner Teeth
It makes sense from a logical standpoint that brushing hard would lead to having cleaner teeth. The truth is that you don’t need to apply much if any, pressure when you’re brushing your teeth. Applying pressure when brushing teeth is a great way to cause an oral injury as well as loose teeth in children.
If you want to brush your teeth in an effective way then you should focus more on technique and less on the force that you use for brushing. You should also make sure that your children have the right tools for cleaning and protecting their teeth. They should have good toothpaste, a good toothbrush, and floss in order to boost their oral health.
- Cavities Come From Sugar
Another big myth when it comes to the pediatric dentist is that sugar is the only cause of children’s cavities. Sugar can cause cavities, but it isn’t the only thing that will eat away at your children’s teeth. Carbohydrates are the real enemies when it comes to cavities in your children’s teeth.
The bacteria that live in your mouth love feeding on carbohydrates. Any food that is high in carbohydrate content will lead to cavities for your children’s teeth. Plaque is another big reason why your child is getting cavities.
Focus more on proper cleaning techniques and consistent appointments with the pediatric dentist. The sugar doesn’t help, but there are other concerns that are more likely to cause cavities.
- Don’t Brush Baby Teeth
You should absolutely make sure that you’re brushing your baby’s teeth. Sure, your baby’s teeth are pearly and white but that doesn’t mean that they’re clean. Children tend to collect as much dirt in their teeth as adults do during a typical day.
Your children’s primary teeth are also important because they have an impact on your child’s health even if they’re placeholders for their adult teeth. Make sure that you help your children avoid complications with their teeth and that they brush in the correct way.
- Flossing Doesn’t Do Anything
Flossing is an activity that no one seems to enjoy, but it is wrong to say that it doesn’t do anything to help your teeth. If you want to help your children’s oral health then you need to introduce them to flossing. Plaque is one of the main causes of cavities, and flossing is the best way to prevent plaque buildup.
The best time to teach your children how to floss is when two teeth start to touch together. Floss is important because it cleans the areas that your toothbrush can’t get to. Your children will avoid early tooth decay and become comfortable with using floss if it is introduced at an early age.
- Pacifiers Are Bad
It is normal and okay for your baby or your infant to use a pacifier. Your child is doing this as a way to soothe themselves. Using a pacifier doesn’t become a big issue until it progresses past a certain age.
If your child is still using a pacifier after the age of four then you should consult with your pediatric dentist for solutions.
- Fluoride Toothpaste Is Bad
Many people think that fluoride toothpaste is bad for your children’s teeth but this could not be further from the truth. You need to be cautious that your children don’t swallow the toothpaste that they’re using so that they don’t ingest the fluoride. Besides that, fluoride is completely safe for your children to use when brushing and cleaning their teeth.
Fluoride is essential for strengthening the teeth of your children and protecting them from children’s cavities. There is nothing unsafe or dangerous about your child using toothpaste that contains fluoride.
Start Protecting Your Children’s Teeth
Children’s teeth are the most susceptible to issues because many parents believe that they don’t need to see a pediatric dentist unless a big problem arises. Make sure that you take your child to the dentist for regular checkups and teach them the right way to brush and floss. You should also make sure to brush your baby’s teeth when they’re an infant. If you’re having a hard time finding a reliable dentist, you should check out this dental expert who does deep bleaching, Laser Periodontal Therapy, and quality dental implants in Tampa.
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