Why Having a Local Children’s Dentist is Essential for Family Health

Wednesday, September 2, 2015
Why Having a Local Children’s Dentist is Essential for Family Health

Choosing a children’s dentist for your family is an important choice – make the right one with Penn Dental.

Surprisingly, tooth decay remains the most prevalent and chronic disease in young children. According to the CDC, 20% of kids between the ages of 2 and 19 have untreated cavities. Though entirely preventable, childhood dental decay has only continued to increase in pervasiveness over the past few decades. Good dental health is important for everyone, especially young children who don’t yet understand what dental hygiene means. Just like with adults, your dental health is directly related and connected to your overall health. Your children’s dentist can help you with proper dental care techniques.

Childhood Dental Health

Poor dental hygiene can lead to decay, tooth loss, and gum disease. Those issues can lead to inflammation of the gums and surrounding tissues, and even further health issues down the road like poor nutrition and sleep issues. As soon as your child gets their first tooth, they could make a fun trip to your children’s dentist.

They don’t even need to see the children’s dentist, you can just bring them into the office to get used to the environment. Children often get scared when going to the doctor or the dentist, so it is a great idea to make their first visit fun and relaxed with no official treatment to get done.

Until it’s time for regular visits (by the age of three), you can practice regularly brushing teeth at home. There are bright toothbrushes and flavorful toothpastes to help make the experience more enjoyable. And even though your child’s first set of teeth will eventually fall out, it is still important to practice good hygiene to avoid dental decay of their baby teeth. You could also consider an electric toothbrush – kids usually think they’re a little more exciting than traditional toothbrushes. Some of them even make different sounds for a fun experience.

The Best Local Children’s Dentist

Your local children’s dentist can be the second line of defense against tooth decay in your child. The first line of defense is, of course, the family members. But your pediatric dentist at Penn Dental can address the unique dental needs of your children. Our pediatric dentists are specialists who have the training and experience needed to provide the best of care.

Penn Dental pediatric doctors understand what’s happening in your child’s mouth as they develop their first set of teeth, developmental challenges that may occur along the way, and even how to be patient with children who don’t like to sit still for very long. Our pediatric dentists offers a range of services for your children including regular cleanings, general screenings, and topical fluoride applications.

Schedule an Appointment Today

If your child is ready for their first dental appointment, contact our office to set up a day and time. If you have a dental emergency, such as a cracked or broken tooth, come in right away – dental related accidents are actually common in childhood. One of our children’s dentists can provide immediate assistance.