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Primary, or “baby,” teeth are important for many reasons. Not only do they help children speak clearly and chew naturally, they also aid in forming a path that permanent teeth can follow when they are ready to erupt.
Getting an early start in regular dental care is an important step on the road to teaching your child healthy lifetime habits. Your dentist will share with you the latest available methods for keeping your child healthy and safe.
The first dental visit should occur shortly after the first tooth erupts and no later than the child’s first birthday. Beginning tooth and mouth examinations early may lead to detection of the early stages of tooth decay that can be easily treated.
During the first visit your dentist will cover several aspects of prevention, including:
» Recommending a home care regimen, including brushing, flossing, diet and the importance of fluorides.
» Conducting a caries risk assessment.
» Providing information about Early Childhood Caries, which may be due to inappropriate nursing habits or inappropriate use of sippy cups.
» Providing the latest facts about finger, thumb and pacifier habits.
» Tips on preventing injuries to the mouth and teeth.
» Information on growth and development.
» Information on preventing tooth decay.
Your dentist can share with you how to make teeth strong, keep bacteria from organizing into harmful colonies, develop healthy eating habits and understand the role that time plays.
Remember, dental decay is an infection of the tooth. Four things are necessary for cavities to form: a tooth, bacteria, sugars or other carbohydrates, and time.
The pediatric dental community is continually doing research to develop new techniques for preventing dental decay and other forms of oral disease.
Studies show that children with poor oral health have decreased school performance and, oftentimes, children experiencing pain from decayed teeth are distracted and unable to concentrate on schoolwork. They also are more likely to experience poor social relationships and less success later in life.
To help your infant or child get a jump start on outstanding oral health, the 86th Dental Squadron is hosting “Little Teeth, Big Smiles” clinic from 8 a.m. to noon Nov. 20 in Bldg. 301.
The clinic will be available to provide free dental examinations, including radiographs and cleanings.
For questions about the event, call Master Sgt. Eric Anderson or Senior Airman Rachel Hentrich at 479-2210.
(Courtesy of the 86th Dental Squadron and the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry)
