Resolutions—you and your family make them every year, but somehow most fall by the wayside when February comes around. Well, this year you can make a resolution that is both easy to keep and important for your health: go to the dentist every six months. To make it more fun for the kiddos, choose to take them to a dentist who specializes in treating children. Here are 4 good reasons to take your kids to a pediatric dentist in 2019.
Prevent Cavities
Even if you brush and floss your child’s teeth daily, plaque buildup can still happen. The bacteria in plaque create acids that attack your child’s tooth enamel. When the enamel becomes decayed from these acids, your child gets a cavity. The dental cleaning they get every six months helps to wipe the slate clean. The hygienist uses professional tools and skills to remove hardened plaque buildup and prevent tooth decay or stop it from getting worse.
Track Oral Development
As your child grows and changes, their dental needs will change was well, making your pediatric dentist a valuable resource and partner in your child’s oral development. Through these regular appointments, your pediatric dentist will be able to identify potential issues and provide early intervention, so your child will need less extensive treatment later in life. One example of this is wisdom tooth extraction.
Start Healthy Habits Early
It’s never too early to start visiting the dentist. From the time your baby cuts their first tooth, you can bring them in and at minimum get great advice from your pediatric dentist for ways to keep your child’s smile brilliant. You may be tempted to skip some appointments, but don’t! Not only can problems develop, but when you come every six months, you establish a routine for your child. Through sheer habit reinforcement, they will learn that going to the dentist is an important step in maintaining their oral health.
Save Money
Did you know that most dental insurance companies completely cover two dental checkups and cleanings per year? Why do you think they do that? Well, these companies know that it costs less to pay for a simple cleaning and prevent problems than it does to pay for a bigger, more expensive issue later. Even if you don’t have dental insurance, the same principle applies. Paying for preventive dental care is worth the cost to avoid needing to pay for more intensive treatment.
Your family’s New Year’s resolutions don’t have to be overly complicated. By making goals you can and will actually stick with, you and your kids can experience the feeling of accomplishment and do meaningful things that will help improve their wellbeing. Make 2019 a year when you teach your children the importance of their oral health by visiting your pediatric dentist.
About the Author
A board-certified pediatric dentist, Dr. Lily has over five years of experience. At Shiny Smiles Pediatric Dentistry, she provides preventive, emergency, sedation, and special needs dentistry services to her patients from infants to nineteen-year-olds in Garland, TX. She loves to help her patients smile, especially those with special needs. You can contact her by calling (469) 925-0861 or clicking here.