Many Americans take their dental health very seriously, since a full mouth of healthy and attractive teeth make for a great smile and will rarely cause painful or distressing tooth problems. Dentistry ranks among the top 10 most trusted and ethical professions in the entire United States today, and many millions of Americans go to their regular dentist every single year. The same is true for their kids; responsible adults will take their under-18 kids to pediatric dentists or kids dentists, and these kids dentists will specialize in the teeth and gums of under-18 patients, even toddlers. Good preventative care such as having sealants or braces put on may be offered at kids dentists offices, and parents may look for these dental offices when their child is old enough for them. Good dental care for kids may just be an Internet search or phone call away.
Kids and Their Health
Parents have every reason to send their children to kids dentists regularly. Tooth-eating bacteria don’t discriminating, and American children sometimes suffer from cavities and similar issues. In fact, it’s estimated that around 18.6% of children aged five to 19 suffer from untreated cavities in their teeth, and nearly 40% of children have had dental cavities by the time they start kindergarten, typically at age five or six. Meanwhile, the Center for Health and Care in Schools has stated that nearly 51 million total school hours are lost each year due to dental illnesses among students. A child’s good dental health should start right away, and healthy teeth in childhood are possible through smart habits that may continue well into adulthood. Children who are taught to value their teeth’s health may treat good dental are as a matter of course at some point.
Finding a Fine Kids Dentist
If a child first becomes old enough for the dentist, or when a family moves to a new area, the parents may look online to find some fine kids dentists if they don’t already have personal references to use. To begin with, the parents may search with a phrase such as “good kids dentists in San Diego CA” or “best pediatric dentists near me” and enter their ZIP code or even street name to find something local. A query like this will show a whole list of results, including the name and address of each kids dentists office and the dentists who work there. Parents may strike out offices that are too far away or those that aren’t accepting new patients, and visit the rest.
Parents may visit these kids dentists offices with their children in tow, and parents may check if their health insurance policies are accepted there. The parents will also consult the dentists and their assistants for their expertise, educational background, and patient reviews to evaluate them. Meanwhile, the child won’t ask anyone for their credentials but they may get an impression of whether or not they like that office. If the child is comfortable there and gets along with the staff, then that office may be a fine candidate. The parents may visit several different offices until they find just the right one.
Tooth Care
For the most part, a child’s dental care is like that of their parents. Young patients may be told the best ways to take care of their teeth, such as being diligent about brushing their teeth at least twice a day. Ideally, teeth will be brushed after every meal or after consuming something sugary. Tooth brushing removes sugars from the teeth and the harmful bacteria who feed on that sugar and secrete plaque. The plaque, too, will be removed. If not, excessive plaque buildup will lead to tartar, which is tougher and visibly discolors the teeth. If supervised, kids might also use mouthwash, if they’re careful.
Kids may also undergo routine cleaning and examinations at the dentist’s office, including X-rays. These young patients may also have braces put on if their teeth are growing in crooked, and kids can have sealant put on to further protect their teeth. Kids may also be advised to avoid chewing on hard items, and they may be told to use mouth guard when playing sports. This protects the teeth from blunt trauma that may chip them or knock them out entirely.