Young children are more susceptible to dental issues than most adults are because they need your supervision to practice perfect oral cleaning. For this reason, you should introduce your children to early oral hygiene practices that will help them while growing into adulthood.
As soon as your child is 6 months old, the first set of the baby tooth will begin to sprout; this is the right time to schedule the first visit to a pediatric dentist. With consistent visits, the child will get more familiar with the dentist’s environment.
Children who have met the dentist at an early age will achieve better oral care principles than those who wait a little longer. Also, through a regular visit, the dentist can easily detect some underlying oral problems and recommend the best solution to solve them. Infant oral health examination is important due to the following reasons:
To Establish Dental And Medical History Of The Child
Medical and dental history of patients, whether adults or children is important as it helps in the development of medical history. During the child’s frequent visit, the dentist guides both you and the child on what to expect.
Since you have more understanding than your child, the dentist will ask you some questions related to your child’s oral care. They will also provide answers to important questions that bother you. Your interaction with the dentist is often related to your medical history at the time of your pregnancy and the delivery of your child.
Oral examination at an early age will pave the ways for the dentist to monitor the child’s oral health from the beginning. The demographics of your child’s overall health will also be accessed.
As a parent, you must be transparent about your child’s medical report. Inform the dentist if your child has any allergies or medications that disturb them. You should also include the immunization status of the child. All these are important records that will help your pediatric dentist in guiding your child towards proper oral care.
Even if your child is only beginning to develop new sets of teeth, you should include the history of their oral care routine, which you would have already started helping them practice. Asides, dental cleaning practices, also introduce the use of fluoride and teach your child to avoid some food items.
For Early Introduction To Practice Oral Hygiene
The oral hygiene of a child is important. When your child maintains regular visits to the dentist, they will be able to better examine and monitor the teeth of your child. If he or she needs a deep cleaning, it will be offered during the visit. However, as an adult, you are to teach your child proper oral hygiene.
Before the first sprout of teeth, your child’s mouth should be regularly cleaned with a clean and soft cloth. You can also use a very soft brush to gently brush the gums of your baby after every meal. This helps prepare the child for the actual task of brushing as he or she will gradually grow. It becomes a useful habit.
Let your child get accustomed to brushing and flossing at least twice a day, especially if all the incisors are already present. Teaching these oral hygiene habits and having the dentist perform oral examination will help reduce the accumulation of dental plaque, which normally leads to decay of the teeth and gum.
Some infants and toddlers will likely not cooperate with you when you offer to clean their gums or brush their teeth. The best way to have them accept your offer is by demonstration. Both you and the dentist can help in playfully demonstrating this practice until the child becomes willing.
For Proper Exposure To Fluoride
Children who are already exposed to the early oral examination will be introduced to proper pediatric fluoride use. Parents can also learn the importance of pediatric fluoride on the oral health of a child. However, the amount of fluoride that is given to a child depends on his or her individual needs.
Normally, children should be given a pea-size amount of toothpaste that contains fluoride. This should be practiced daily. Even though most children may require more fluoride than others, children below the age of 3 do not need as much as a pea-sized amount of fluoride like those above 6 years of age. For children below 3, only a small smear is enough.
If you keep your child away from the dentist, you may not be exposed to this because not all children will need the same amount of fluoride. This way, you must monitor your child’s fluoride intake.
Oral Health Education
Your children will benefit greatly from oral health education, which is a foundation to maintain a steady oral health practice that will help them overcome several dental problems in the future.
Well-trained pediatric dentists are always available to teach several techniques of brushing and flossing to your child. They will also discuss the right nutrition, required for children to maintain perfect oral health.
If your child already has dental issues, during an oral examination, the pediatric dentist will carry out deep cleaning. They will use some dental equipment or devices to get rid of accumulated tartar and stains from the teeth.
Conclusion
The oral health examination will benefit children with both temporary and permanent teeth. Take some time out with your child to visit a dentist for an oral examination. It will save you the stress of spending money on serious dental problems later.
The dentist may take X-rays of your child’s teeth to check for underlying dental problems. If there are issues, oral deep cleaning will be carried out. Also, follow-up treatments for children with dental problems will be ensured. If you have children and they have not had their first oral examination yet, it is time to schedule an appointment with a pediatric dentist.