3 Important Reasons To Take Your Child To A Pediatric Dentist
It's nothing out of the ordinary for new parents to be overwhelmed by the number of things they need to keep track of in the first few years of their child's life. While the list is certainly a long one, it is vital that you don't overlook the importance of taking your child to the dentist. Take a look below to discover just three of the most important reasons why you should schedule an appointment with a children's dentist as soon as possible.
Helping Understand Development
As a new parent, you may be totally unaware of what is considered "normal" or "average" in terms of a child's oral development. Thankfully, a pediatric dentist can educate you on everything from when to expect your child's first tooth, to when they need to start brushing their teeth after their teeth come in. They can also warn you about any signs that may be cause for concern, such as those regarding decay or disease. Without a trip to the dentist, new parents are unfortunately left guessing and hoping, rather than being confidently educated.
Preventing Bad Habits
One thing that many new parents may not recognize immediately is how bad habits affect their child's oral development. As big of an impact as bad eating and drinking habits have on adults, they have an even more substantial impact on young children. A pediatric dentist can recommend a healthy diet that will have a positive impact on your child's teeth and gums. They will also be able to advise you on issues that are unique to children, such as teething and thumb sucking. If issues such as these are not addressed sooner rather than later, you may find yourself facing even bigger problems and expenses in the near future.
Diagnosing Misalignment
As your child's teeth start to grow in, your dentist can share with you any abnormalities in alignment. In older children, issues categorized as misalignments can be things as simple as overbites or underbites, but they may also be a reason for a child to get braces. Furthermore, severe misalignment problems that are recognized by your child's pediatric dentist may begin to cause difficulty with everything from chewing to pronunciation of particular words. If necessary, a dentist can recommend that your child see other experts such as speech pathologists. Without the input of an experienced pediatric dentist, misalignment may cause unneeded heartaches for you and your child.
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