Children need regular dental care even when they still have baby teeth. The state of your child's teeth plays an integral role in their overall health and development, and thus should be a top priority. Ideally, the first dental visit starts at twelve months but most children begin between two to three years. Here are four reasons why your child needs to see a kids' dentist.

Oral hygiene

Dental hygiene is just as important for young children as it is for adults. Children's teeth are prone to accumulating plaque mainly due to their penchant for sugary snacks and drinks. Also, most children are not adept at brushing teeth, and insistent protests make brushing teeth often nearly impossible. Regular teeth cleaning by a dentist helps to remove stains and tartar thus keeping bacterial infections at bay.

Baby teeth decay

Even young children under five are prone to tooth decay. Early childhood caries results from bacteria transmitted through saliva, infected spoons and bottles, and cleaning the pacifier with the adult's mouth. Ignoring tooth-rotting will lead to premature falling of the affected baby tooth and increases susceptibility to other infections. More so, the remaining teeth may shift thus leaving little room for a permanent tooth to grow. A kid's dentist can treat decay to ward off future problems.

Expertise

While some dental matters like yanking out baby teeth are easy to deal with at home, it is paramount that your child sees a dentist even for these procedures. A pediatric dentist has years of experience in handling similar cases and is, therefore, best poised to advise on proper dental hygiene. These visits also present a chance to prevent or detect problems like crooked teeth at the onset thus improving the chances of recovery.

Preventative-based care

Pediatric or kids dentists are ardent on preventative measures to prevent dental issues during childhood and adulthood. Your child will adopt useful oral hygiene habits from an early stage and own this responsibility without fear of dental visits. Besides imparting brushing and flossing tips, dentists offer nutritional information to keep your teeth healthy. Freebies like a new toothbrush and fluoride toothpaste often accompany these visits.

Conclusion

A healthy oral regime for your child includes proper dental care at home and also seeing the dentist on a regular basis. This practice will save your child from possible dental complication such as decay that may be difficult to detect on your own. Your child will also benefit from having a consistent dentist from childhood until their later life.

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