When you look at someone for the first time, one of the first things you realize is an individual’s teeth and smile. Being able to flash a beautiful smile will make a lasting first impression in people’s minds. The key to ensuring you have great oral health and a beautiful smile is by starting out with an oral health regimen while you’re young. When children are younger, they are much more impressionable and therefore you can teach them the benefits of oral hygiene and how visiting the dentist can positively impact their life. If you teach your kids the importance of a clean mouth for both their health and their societal impact, they will be more likely to continue this pattern of good hygiene. To start this process, consider taking your child for pediatric dental care. Visiting a Calgary dentist at a young age is very important, as it can wholly shape the future of your kid’s teeth.
What is Pediatric Dentistry?
Pediatric dentistry focuses on dealing with children and the growth of teeth itself. Pediatric dentists have vast and extensive knowledge in handling how baby teeth are placed, how gums and jawbones are developing, and how to properly care for the growth of secondary teeth when this process begins.
One of the best parts about visiting a pediatric dentist is they can teach your growing children how to properly care for their teeth. This can include anything including how to brush their teeth, the right ways to floss, the best foods to avoid eating, and if fluoride should or should not be used. Another great thing that pediatric dentistry can help children with is understanding the situations they are going through.
Compared to adult dentistry, pediatric dentistry focuses on small children and therefore knows how they’ll react. Because of this, your child will most likely feel more comfortable when visiting for a pediatric dentistry consultation at a younger age. This will help them get used to the process of visiting a dentist on a regular basis for routine follow-up care.
When to Take Your Child for a Pediatric Dental Care Visit
There are many debates about the best time to bring your child to a dentist for the first time. Some people argue that waiting until around 2 years old is best, while others have significantly different opinions. According to The Canadian Dental Association (CDA), the best time to take your child to their first dentist appointment is within 6 months of your child’s first tooth erupting, and no later than 1 year of age. They say this is the appropriate time because it allows dentists to visualize how the teeth are growing in, while also being able to observe and prevent potential issues that may arise in the future.
Bringing your child to a pediatric sooner rather than later will also help them ease anxiety and help prevent early childhood caries (ECC). It is more likely that a younger child would grow familiar with the dentist sooner than an older toddler would, so save them the distress and arrange your pediatric dentistry consultation today. Pediatric dental care can greatly benefit your child in the long term. Schedule a consultation with Calgary dentist Dr. Arash Ravanbakhsh and let his experience help get your child into a consistent oral health routine.
Benefits of Pediatric Dental Care
When you take your child for pediatric dental care, their oral health can improve right away. Helping your child understand and be aware of cavities, gum decay, or various oral health issues can help reinforce the importance of a regular oral health routine. Many dental problems are not solely visible to the eye at a glance, but dentists are trained at recognizing these underlying issues. Identifying these issues early will prevent long-term damage that could require more invasive treatment protocols.
A second great benefit of pediatric dental care is the dentist can teach your child good oral hygiene habits. Knowing the proper way to brush and floss their teeth can prevent the buildup of plaque and bacteria, which cause tooth decay, cavities, and early childhood caries. Lastly, even parents can gain insights from taking their children for a pediatric dental care checkup. Learn how to properly care for your children’s teeth and get tips on how to encourage them to keep up their dental cleanliness. We try to make caring for your teeth fun, and many of our young patients actually enjoy visiting with our Calgary dentists.
Visit Inglewood Family Dental With Your Child Today
If your child is around the age of 1 or has baby teeth that have erupted, you may want to consider bringing them in for a pediatric dental care visit. This way, your mind can be at ease knowing your child’s teeth are perfectly healthy and help start them on a good oral health routine that will help their teeth stay strong and healthy for years to come. Many preventative measures can be taken now to ensure their oral health remains of a high quality throughout the years.
Dr. Arash Ravanbakhsh is a General dentist in Calgary that loves working with children, and helping instill essential hygiene practices. Visit Inglewood Family Dental today for a pediatric dental care visit and the beginning of your child’s improved oral health future!
