4 Dental Hygiene Myths Your Dentist Wants You to Understand
For adults who can afford it, getting their six-month dental checkup is just another routine fact of life, ranking somewhere between cleaning their home heating filters and paying taxes. Less well-known are some important facts about dentistry for children. These myths and the actual truth that de bunks them just might surprise you.
MY CHILD SHOULD FIRST GO TO THE DENTIST WHEN SHE BEGINS SCHOOL
Actually, her initial dental visit should happen at age one or when her first tooth appears. Starting at this early age will give you the opportunity to learn pediatric tooth-brushing techniques. Better still, today’s modern dentists, including the tooth experts at Silver Lake Family Dental, know how to make visits fun so that your child can enter into a lifetime of healthy teeth.
REDUCING MY CHILD’S SUGAR INTAKE WILL KEEP HIM FROM GETTING CAVITIES
While it is true that sugar is correlated with cavities, the truth is much more complicated. Endo tooth is caused by bacteria that feed on everything from sugars to carbohydrates.
If there is one thing that can minimize cavities, it is good daily oral hygiene and regular visits to the dentist for cleanings and to spot problems in their early stages.
MY INDEPENDENT CHILD CAN BRUSH HER TEETH WITHOUT SUPERVISION
Kids often like to do things for themselves, and this is an admirable trait. However, the stakes are high when it comes to dental maintenance. Children’s attention spans are short, and they often miss hard-to-reach parts of their mouths. To avoid not only tooth decay but the establishment of poor habits, let your child do the brushing first; then pick up where she left off, gently demonstrating the proper techniques each night.
THEY’RE ONLY BABY TEETH, SO CAVITIES DON’T MATTER
As anyone who has had a toothache can attest, cavities hurt, and they give you pain whether they are in a baby tooth or a permanent one. In addition, the bacterial infection of a severely decaying tooth cell can spread to other parts of the body. Finally, what happens to baby teeth can actually do damage to the adult teeth below. A tooth is a tooth, and a cavity is a cavity.
Help your child to get the best dental start by contacting Silver Lake Family Dental for an appointment today. Remember, a healthy mouth is the gateway to a healthy body at any age. We look forward to meeting you.