If your 4-year-old has a cavity, is it really that big of a deal? After all, they only have baby teeth, and baby teeth fall out! The problem will solve itself, right? Wrong. Baby teeth still need to be healthy, and you should make sure that your child doesn't miss their regular checkups with their pediatric dental specialist. Here is why you will want to make sure your child's baby teeth stay cavity-free:
Prevent Bacteria From Spreading
One little cavity that only affects one tooth might not seem like a huge problem, but it could certainly become one if left unattended. Bacteria that cause cavities can spread to other teeth, causing multiple cavities and even spreading deep to the permanent teeth that are still developing or leading to gum disease. Besides feeling painful to your child, it could become very expensive to fix the problem at that point, all for something that's easily preventable with regular visits to a pediatric dental specialist.
Keep Teeth Correctly Spaced
If your child loses a baby tooth due to tooth decay, you might think that the permanent tooth can just come in to replace it without a problem. However, children losing teeth to decay can cause problems with permanent teeth crowding the remaining baby teeth or coming in crooked. Crowded and crooked teeth can also affect your child's bite, which can create other problems down the road. Young children who have gaps in their mouth due to losing baby teeth early on might not learn how to pronounce certain sounds and words correctly. You should absolutely have your young child see a pediatric dentist to make sure you do all you can to prevent these issues from arising.
Start Lifelong Healthy Habits
Prevention is always easier than fixing a problem after it has caused extensive damage. Maybe baby teeth aren't meant to last, but oral hygiene isn't something that will ever go away. You want your young child to be fully equipped with the healthy habits and hygiene skills they need to properly care for adult teeth. Getting them used to flossing, brushing carefully twice a day with fluoride toothpaste, and going to regular dental checkups will go a long way in setting them up for success. They'll have less discomfort and pain and fewer dental bills to pay because of the healthy foundation you and the pediatric dentist help them set.
Don't let yourself believe that the health of your child's baby teeth doesn't matter just because they are going to fall out one day. Oral hygiene is important at any age, and you want your child's smile to develop properly. Contact pediatric dental specialists in your area for more information about keeping your child's teeth healthy.
Share27 May 2022
I have always brushed and flossed my teeth daily, but I still had the occasional cavity when I visited the dentist for a check-up. He told me it was normal to have a cavity on occasion and that I shouldn't let it stress me out too much. Well, I am not one to just accept any problem I am having, so I started looking into how to improve my oral hygiene even more. I had always thought mouthwash was just to improve your breath, but I found some that said they helped keep cavities away. I started using one every day before bed. I haven't had a cavity in two years now, and I think the mouth rinse is the reason! I created this blog to remind other people that even if they brush and floss regularly, they can always find ways to take even better care of their teeth.