A Parent’s Guide to Emergency Dental Care

Posted on: 12 June 2018

As a parent, you are probably concerned with your child's health and wellness. Therefore, you prepare well-balanced meals, ensure they get plenty of exercise, and enroll them in excellent schools and extracurricular programs. While beneficial, these tasks do not protect your child's oral health. Teaching your child good oral hygiene at an early age is essential if you want your child's smile to be healthy and appealing well into their adult years. Unfortunately, many parents believe common misconceptions about their child's teeth, which can prevent them from providing proper dental care. Here are a few common misconceptions you may have about your child's oral health.

They Are Too Young for Dental Care

If you are like many parents, you may believe your child is too young to visit the dentist, but the truth may surprise you.

Experts recommend bringing your child in for their first dental exam as soon as their first tooth erupts in the mouth. In many cases, this first visit will occur before your child even turns one year of age. Of course, if your child has not developed their first tooth, make sure to schedule an appointment with a pediatric dentist to determine what is causing the delay.

There are many benefits to early dental care, even when your child is this young. This early care will ensure your child becomes comfortable of the dentist, dental tools, and procedures. It will also help educate your child on the importance of proper oral hygiene.

Brushing Baby Teeth Is Not Necessary

Another common misconception you may believe is that brushing your child's baby teeth is not necessary because they will not be permanent parts of their mouth. Again, this is not true, so you should understand the importance of your child's baby teeth.

Without proper brushing, your child's baby teeth may develop cavities, decay, and infections. These dental issues not only affect the actual baby tooth, but they can also spread into the gum tissue and underlying adult teeth that have yet to erupt.

Good oral hygiene and regular visits to the dentist for cleanings and exams will reduce the risk of cavities and infections. This will protect the look and health of your child's baby teeth while also promoting the healthy development of their adult teeth.

Fruit Juice Is Healthy

It is true that fruit should be a part of your child's healthy diet. Unfortunately, most fruit juices contain small amounts of juice and high levels of sugar. Even though juice contains some fruit or fruit flavoring, consuming excessive amounts of juice can harm your child oral health.

Sugar will erode your child's tooth enamel, increasing the risk of cavities and decay. The various dyes in fruit juice can also discolor and stain your child's teeth, affecting the overall appearance of their smile.

If your child is between the ages of 1 and 6, they should not drink more than 4 to 6 ounces of fruit juice per day. If your child is a baby, avoid giving them any juice until they are at least 6 months of age.

For parents with children who are already consuming large amounts of juice daily, help is available. It is best to wean your child off fruit juice so they can consume healthier beverages, such as water and milk, instead. Dilute the juice with water. Each time you give your child juice, add more water to help your child reduce their intake of this sugary beverage.

Making your child's oral health a priority is imperative if you want them to have a healthy and attractive smile throughout their life. This guide and your dentist's help will teach you the truth behind a few common misconceptions regarding your child's dental health. Contact a local dental office for additional advice.