The Importance of Routine Dental Check-Ups for Children

All children need to have routine dental exams starting around the age of four, or sooner if they have dental problems. So why is it that only half of the children in the United States between the ages of two and seventeen have these regular dental check-ups? More than half of the time the reason children don't see a dentist regularly is because of a lack of money. Many people do not understand the importance of having their children seen regularly by their dentist.

Most parents will most definitely take their children for their routine check-ups with their pediatrician. Many would never dream of missing an immunization appointment. Unfortunately, many of those same parents do not consider routine dental check-ups to be as important and, therefore, do not take their children for routine dental exams.

Just think of a dental exam like an eye exam. Without routine eye exams your child could go through life with vision problems that could have been caught early and possibly corrected. The same goes when it comes to routine dental check-ups. It is suggested that you and your children visit your dentist every six months for a dental exam and cleaning. During these exams your child's teeth will be carefully inspected, cleaned, checked for cavities, be given flouride treatments and possibly have x-rays to check their teeth thouroughly. If the dentist finds anything wrong with your child's teeth then it can be taken care of early on, unlike someone who hasn't been to a dentist in years and then they have major dental problems to deal with that could have been minor if it had been taken care of earlier in their life.

If your child does not have routine dental check-ups then you could be setting them up for a lifetime of dental problems and possibly a lose of all of their teeth. There are many problems that could occur when a child does not see a dentist regularly. Cavities, for one, can be caught early on with routine dental exams. If cavities aren't taken care of early on then they can cause the rotting of the whole tooth that the cavity is in. Which in turn can cause pain to your child as well as the loss of the tooth and possibly adjoining teeth. When a cavity is caught early it can be quickly repaired right in the dentist's office in a matter of minutes. Other dental problems that a routine dental exam can catch early on are gingivitis and periodontitis.

The signs of something wrong in your child's mouth are things like pain, constant bad breathe, puffy gums, red gums, bleeding gums and gum recession. If you or your child notice any of these symptoms then it is important that you get your child to a dentist immediately. You wouldn't take a chance with their health if they were ill so don't take a risk with their dental health either. Sometimes a dental problem can also be a sign of another health problem. So this makes routine dental check-ups even more important for the health of your children.

Here are a few tips for parents when it comes to their child's dental health. Be a good role model. Children love to imitate the things that their parents do. So if your children see you being a firm believer in brushing and flossing your teeth every day then they too will want to be a firm believer in it. When your child's first tooth appears it's time to start cleaning it. You don't have to wait until they have a mouth full of chompers before you clean them. When they are infants with only a few teeth you can simply use a clean, damp cloth to clean each tooth. When your child reaches 12 months of age you can actually start bruching their teeth with a little toothbrush. You can also start flossing their teeth once the gaps between their teeth have closed up.

Being a good role model also means visiting your own dentist for regular dental check-ups. Especially once your child gets old enough to visit the dentist themselves. Some children are afraid of the dentist and all of his or her "tools" so seeing mom and dad sitting up there like a "big kid" and having their own exam will help alleviate your child's fears a bit. If your whole family uses the same dentist then you could schedule family appointments so that everyone gets their exams at the same time. This is a big help when you have several people that need exams. It's so much easier to get them all done in one trip than in several different trips.

Check your child's mouth regularly for signs of anything that's not quite right. My girls' pediatric dentist actually suggests that parents help their children brush their teeth on up to the age of nine. You should also be helping them floss so that they will learn the correct way to floss. I know that most children absolutely abhor the thought of their parents brushing their teeth for them so at least watch them and make sure they are doing it correctly. If you see that they aren't then show them the correct way to brush a few times and them maybe you won't have to do it for them.

When it comes to your child's dental health be persistant. They may not like it but it has to be done. Try to make going to the dentist a fun trip. Sometimes just finding a friendly, cheery pediatric dentist is enough to ensure excitement from yoru child when it's time for a dental exam. My girls make me laugh at how excited they get when it's time for their routine dental exam. They always leave that office with a smile, a balloon, a goodie bag full of dental supplies and some little toy. No wonder they enjoy! These little trinkets are like gold to children. I would enjoy going to the gynecologist if I came home with a diamond ring every time! *Hahaha!*

In the end, it is so very important that you take your children for routine dental check-ups from a very early age. This simple task can impact the rest of their lives and possibly the dental health of their future children.