From an early age, the oral health of your son or daughter is important. With around 51 million hours of school missed each year due to dental-related problems, your kid’s oral health can affect their overall health, education, and social development. In an effort to raise awareness on the importance of kids’ oral health, your children’s dentist in Fargo has put together some reasons why kids dental care is important as well as some tips that can help.
A Leading Chronic Health Issue
Did you know that tooth decay is one of the most common health issues found in children? Additionally, oral health issues can lead to persistent pain, infection or abscesses, inability to chew properly, decreased appetite, and even depression and attention issues.
The Impact of Dental Issues in Children
The millions of school hours that kids miss each year affects their learning, especially in early grades, where the development of foundational skills is incredibly important. Additionally, children that experience oral health pain are 4 times more likely to have a lower GPA than those with healthy smiles.
How Can I Keep My Child’s Mouth Healthy?
Fortunately, dental issues and cavities can be prevented by a good at-home oral healthcare routine and regular dental visits. Be sure that your son or daughter is brushing their teeth twice a day, for 2 minutes each session. Flossing once a day is also necessary to remove cavity-causing plaque and bacteria from in between their teeth.
On top of a good at home routine, you should change out their brushes every 3 to 4 months and schedule dental checkups and cleanings. You should also watch out for sugary snacks and beverages because sugar is a leading cause of cavities. Additionally, try to incorporate tap water into their diet instead of sugary sodas and juices. Most tap water contains fluoride, which is a natural cavity-fighting mineral.
Why Oral healthcare Early On is Important
Taking care of your children’s mouth while they are young is vital not only to their current oral health, but for their health in the future as well. The more positive experiences your kids have at the dentist’s office, the more likely they will be to visit on their own when they’re older. Additionally, the sooner they can get into positive at-home oral healthcare habits, the easier it will be for them to take care of their smile down the road.
Now that you know why kids’ oral health is so important, use these tips to keep your little ones’ mouth in tip-top shape for National Children’s Dental Health Month and year-round!
About the Practice
At Cornerstone Dental, we have a highly-trained team of experts who are ready to help your kids. Our dentists care for patients of all ages, and they take pride in their ability to make your children smile. For any questions, they can be contacted through their website or by phone at (701) 237-3583 for any questions.