Excellent oral hygiene is necessary for having long-lasting healthy teeth. The earlier your children learn to care for their teeth the proper way, the better chance they have at obtaining excellent oral hygiene in adulthood. It is important, for many reasons, that you take your child to the dentist in Gig Harbor as early as recommended by their pediatrician. Your child will learn the benefits of good oral hygiene, prevent future dental problems and be provided with flouride treatments that can provide strong teeth and healthy gums.
The Earlier The Better
The first step in ensuring your child’s dental health is helping them establish good oral hygiene. When your child’s pediatrician recommends that they see the dentist, you should schedule an appointment. Typically, this occurs around two to three years old, depending on both the pediatrician and the dentist in Gig Harbor. At your child’s first appointment they will be able to get their teeth cleaned by the dental hygienist and have their teeth checked and counted by the dentist. Both the dentist and the oral hygienist will provide you and your child with tips on how to care for their teeth, such as ways to properly brush, what types of toothpaste are appropriate, how long you need to brush, as well as flossing techniques. Your child, whether you realize it or not, will learn these good oral hygiene habits very early and will be able to properly care for their teeth later in life. It is important that you, as a parent, provide you child with the guidance he/she needs in brushing and flossing, showing them the importance of taking care of their teeth.
Preventative Dental Care
Another advantage of taking your child to the dentist Gig Harbor is preventative care. Some children are prone to having weak or soft enamel that is prone to developing cavities, even with good oral hygiene habits. Taking your child to the dentist regularly will ensure that these problems can be spotted early and quickly resolved. Even though your child’s baby teeth will eventually fall out, they still need to be cared for in order for healthy adult teeth to come in. Remember, damage done to your child’s teeth can travel to the roots and to the adult teeth that are waiting to come out. Further, you child’s dentist will be able to spot any issues with teeth coming in, make sure that your child’s teeth with have room, as well as detect any other possible dental situations that may arise.
The Benefits Of Flouride
When your child is at the dentist, he/she will be given flouride treatments. This will help protect your child’s teeth and strengthen them as well. Although there are some brands of toothpaste that contain flouride, it is likely that your child is not old enough for flouride toothpaste, or is not getting enough flouride through the toothpaste. In addition, depending on the health of your child’s teeth, your dentist can prescribe flouride pills to ensure that your child is getting the flouride they need to have strong, healthy teeth in childhood, carrying over into adulthood. As you can see, taking your child to the dentist in Gig Harbor is a very excellent idea and remember – the earlier, the better.
