Pediatric Dentistry is a field of oral health dedicated to children from infancy up until they turn into teenagers. This is a time in a young person’s life where they likely will be going through many changes in their body, including in their mouth! Dentists are trained professionals who can work on patients of all ages.
Children should go to the dentist from the age of one, despite most children not seeing their family dentist until they are two! Baby teeth are extremely important and the development of them should be closely viewed, as this can affect a child’s ability to chew and speak. It is extremely important to look after your child’s teeth from the start and encourage oral hygiene habits from a young age.
The most common childhood disease is tooth decay, it is extremely harmful as it can completely destroy a child’s teeth and have a long term effect on their health. Yet, more than 42% of children will have a cavity.
Cavities can be prevented by encouraging good oral hygiene to your children from the minute they start developing baby teeth. Your dentist may recommend flouride treatments to help strengthen your child’s teeth.
The Canadian Dental Association recommends that a child’s first dental visit should occur within 6 months after the presence of the child’s first tooth, or by their first birthday. It is important to teach children proper oral hygiene habits as early as possible to ensure ongoing oral health.