Saturday, August 16, 2014

The Sooner the Better

The Sooner the Better

Pediatric Dentist Chicago


It is always made clear to a parent how often they have to bring their children to the doctor, but what parents are often not aware of is when exactly they should bring their child to the dentist. Many parents don't even think about the dentist for their children until they are going to school and are required to have a check-up. What they don't realize is that oral health is also a part of their child's overall health and has to be prioritized right up there with pediatrician visits.  
It is recommended that children see the dentist before their first birthday. There are many things happening in your child's mouth around this time that parents may not know or see. Children acquire their first tooth around the age of six months. It is important for the pediatric dentist to measure the development of the child's teeth, check for and implement ways to prevent tooth decay, enforce good oral health habits, and build a comfortable anxiety free relationship with the child. 
When you bring your child to a pediatric dentist Chicago a great way for you to learn more about their oral health is to ask questions. The dentist can tell you what you should be doing at home to prevent problems and can give you information to keep your child in good health; preventing future problems such as cavities and tooth decay. 
Seeing a Chicago pediatric dentist early on makes this visit seem more normal to your child. It takes away the stress and fear that many children develop of the dentist office. By doing this, your child will be more willing to tell you when their teeth hurt or if they have a problem with anything in their mouth before it gets bad. Any pediatric dentist Chicago will say that this good relationship between dentist and child helps the child have better oral hygiene down the road. 
Besides just that relationship and trust that is important to develop early on, there is also a great deal developing in the child's mouth that should be monitored by a dentist. A pediatric dentist Chicago can help prevent problems that years of braces and complicated procedures would be needed to fix in the future. The best rule of thumb when trying to decide when is the right time for your child to see a pediatric dentist is "the sooner the better". A pediatric dentist Chicago can help your child love the dentist. 
Blog maintained by Identity Dental Marketing

Cavities


Some dentists use diagnostic equipment to detect very small cavities. Catching cavities early is always a good thing. If the cavity is really small, Dr. Kevin will often wait before filling the tooth. "Diet can play a significant role in both causing and repairing a tooth, " says Dr. Kevin. "I usually tell the parents to pay particular attention to their child's diet over a 4 to 6 week period while we monitor the decay. Plenty of fruits and vegetables (because they contain cavity-fighting fiber) are advised. Lots of tap water (because it has cavity-fighting flouride in it) and minimal eating of sugary things like sweetened cereals, juice, soda and sports drinks (because they have no sugar neutralizing fiber).
In addition to diet and flouride, your own saliva can also work to help your body repair a small cavity. Dr. Boyd most always asks parents to bring their child back in 2 or 3 months to see if the diet and oral hygiene have been good and will recheck the cavity. "Sometimes," says Dr. Boyd," it's obvious that the tooth decay isn't going away so then I have to fill it." However, many times we find with a changed diet and improved oral hygiene practices we see the tooth has not worsened. In some cases, a small cavity can repair itself through absorbing minerals from the saliva through a process called remineralization. Then, there's no need for a filling!"
"We obviously take a more conservative approach but we believe that there are times when a child's body can work its own magic...especially when it's fed the right stuff!

Please visit us at http://www.dentistry4children.net to make an appointment.

Blog maintained by Identity Dental Marketing