February is National Children's Dental Health Month. Good oral health care is as important for children as it is for adults, and children can be especially vulnerable to common dental problems like tooth decay due to sugary drinks and snacks, and poor oral hygiene as they learn to properly brush and floss their teeth.
The American Dental Association (ADA) recommends parents begin taking their children for early childhood dental visits by their first birthday, or six months after their first tooth erupts (whichever happens first).
At Manhasset Dental Arts, our dentists Dr. Elizabeth Abrams and Dr. Michael Abrams, and our team of dental professionals offer a range of family dentistry services at our office in Manhasset, New York.
Early childhood dental visits are important for a number of reasons. While primary (baby) teeth are temporary and will eventually fall out, they’re still vulnerable to cavities and oral health problems that can affect your child’s oral health and the health of their permanent teeth when they eventually grow in.
Baby teeth usually start to erupt at six months, and most children have all of their primary teeth by age three. In addition to a standard checkup and dental cleaning, our dentists monitor your child’s development at each appointment and will give you detailed information on how to help your children brush and floss their teeth, as well as dietary information to help prevent cavities.
Baby teeth are also placeholders for the permanent teeth that will eventually take their place. Most children start to lose their baby teeth by age six. As the permanent teeth start to grow in, childhood dental visits are especially important. Our dentists will look for signs of malocclusions (bite and alignment issues) as your child’s permanent teeth start to erupt. If your child needs braces, we also offer orthodontics treatment at our office in Manhasset, New York.
Early childhood dental visits also help children to get comfortable with going to the dentist, lowering the chances of common problems like dental anxiety, which prevents people of all ages from getting the oral health care they need. Instilling healthy oral hygiene and health habits, including regular dental visits, in childhood will set your children up for a lifetime of healthy teeth and gums.
Even if you haven’t kept up with early childhood dental visits in the past, National Children’s Dental Health Month is the perfect time to make an appointment for a checkup and cleaning!
For more information about early childhood dental visits and the family dentistry services available at our office in Manhasset, New York, contact us today to schedule an appointment.
