It’s easy to view your child’s primary (“baby”) teeth as less important than the permanent teeth replacing them. They’re temporary — the last of them will give way around ages 10 to 13 — so why go to extraordinary lengths to save them if they’re decayed? Although relatively short in life, primary teeth are indeed important. They, of course, provide young children a means to speak and eat. But they’re also pivotal to your child’s […]
There’s really no secret to keeping your child’s teeth healthy — good, daily hygiene habits, regular dental visits and early treatment for emerging problems. It’s a lot easier for those things to happen if your child feels comfortable with dental care and visiting the dentist. Sadly, that’s not always the case: many children develop an unhealthy fear of the dentist because the initial relationship may have been mishandled. Here, then, are 3 tips that will […]
When do you think is the earliest age that tooth decay can start? Would you be surprised to learn that the answer is… just two months! In spite of our best efforts, throughout the world tooth decay remains the most common chronic disease of childhood. And the unfortunate truth is, it’s largely preventable. Tooth decay is caused by harmful bacteria living in the mouth. These bacteria produce acids as a byproduct of feeding on the […]
Dentists have been saying for years that it helps to see children as early as possible — ideally, around the time they reach one year old. Just recently, an evidence-based study was released that backs this up: It shows that starting dental visits prior to age one actually reduces the cost of oral health care, and helps ensure that kids have pleasant dental experiences in the future. Why do young children need to go to […]
As a parent, hearing that your child has a cavity is almost worse than hearing that you have a cavity. You wonder if the cavity is your fault — did you fail to teach your child proper oral hygiene? Should you have spent more time teaching him how to brush? Well, luckily, there are several ways, in addition to diligent oral hygiene, to protect your children’s teeth from decay. When your children are young, the […]