Role of a Pediatric Dentist in Children’s Oral Health

The first set of teeth that will erupt from a child’s gums is expected to fall out at a certain point. In the process, however, proper oral care must be diligently practiced to protect the child’s future dental wellness. In fact, the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry (AAPD) recently released a report highlighting the importance of caring for your little one’s teeth.

According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), dental caries is one of the most common diseases among children, occurring five times more often than asthma and seven times more than hay fever. Furthermore, the CDC adds that 42% of kids have cavities in their baby teeth, while 21% had some in their permanent teeth.

As you might expect, parents are vital to ensuring a child’s oral health. Aside from instilling the habit of regular tooth brushing and flossing, parents should also develop a close partnership with a pediatric dentist as soon as their kid’s teeth start growing out. This way, dental problems can be caught and addressed at the earliest possible time.

That being said, parents should carefully choose which dentist or dental practice to take their kids to. For starters, make sure that your kids’ dentist is quite adept at making them comfortable on the dentist’s chair so they don’t develop an aversion to dental visits. As well, the practice you choose should have an emergency dentist on call in case your child’s teeth suddenly ache or when rough play knocks one out.