According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, tooth decay is one of the most chronic diseases among children, ages 6 to 12, and teens, ages 12 to 19. Children and young adults are five times more likely to struggle with tooth decay than the other common ailments like asthma and hay fever. As early as in kindergarten age, kids can develop tooth decay.
Causes of Early Childhood Cavities
Tooth cavities in early childhood, sometimes called Baby Bottle Tooth Decay, is one type of serious tooth disease. Its causes are:
- Prolonged sucking of milk bottles, even letting the baby fall asleep with it. Formula milk, as well as breast milk, contains sugar that stays on teeth and therefore causes tooth decay.
- Extended period of breastfeeding and allowing a baby to fall asleep while nursing.
- Letting the baby stroll around with milk bottle
- Preventing early childhood cavities is easy when you have the facts. First things first, ensure that your baby doesn't get into a habit of sleeping with a milk bottle. Should your baby protest, fill the bottle with water instead. The best kids dentist will advise to trade the baby's bottle for a training cup as soon as your child reaches age one.
- Teaching dental hygiene to toddlers can be very challenging when there are obstacles like distractions, lack of interest or even fear. A dentist for kids in PA may advise several ways for children to learn oral care but many of these recommendations involve making these experiences fun-filled and interesting.
- Parents should start setting a good example for children ages 3-6 years old on proper brushing and flossing. It is also at this age that children should have their first dental visit. This appointment is very crucial in setting the child's oral health on the right path and parents should make sure that the visit would be memorable.
- Discuss thoroughly with your child how an appointment with a kid's dentist can keep him from experiencing the agony of toothache and shame of tooth loss. Provide positive details on how a visit in an affordable dentist for kids can be fun-filled, i.e colorful office, play land, other kids to make friends with, and more others.
- The formative years (8 – 11 years old) are the period where kids lose their milk teeth and replaced with permanent adult teeth. Proper brushing and flossing during this period is crucial for long term dental health.
- In the later teenage years ( 14 – 18 years old), kids tend to be very conscious with their appearance. This is the time when they need proper corrective orthodontic care like braces and retainers.
The American Dentist Association advises brushing, flossing and regular dental appointments as the basic in achieving and maintaining perfect set of teeth. Be sure you choose the best kids dentist in Philadelphia for your children. An affordable dentist for kids in PA is not difficult to find when you have a school system that helps children learn oral health as part of the health curriculum. A kids dentist in Pennsbury for example sponsors a puppet show for students in early learning centers to help capture a child's attention at a young age. No doubt, teaching dental hygiene to toddlers is not easy to do. Ask for help from your pediatric dentist.
