Smile, children! It’s a fact of life: a bright, healthy smile is a good way to meet people and open new doors for conversation, fun, careers and making friends that last for a lifetime.
In fact, adults and kids alike all know one thing: a glossy smile is socially important. Yet many people are reluctant to visit the dentist (translate that to actually mean ‘petrified’). The thoughts of fillings, crowns, sealants and caps are all just too much for them!
Well, pediatric dentists are here to change all that. Preventive care, which includes sealants, is the key to a healthy life. In addition, pediatric family dentists are here to make life-changing differences to children everywhere.
There’s no denying that oral health, including brushing, flossing, and other options, such as sealants, contribute to overall good health in an individual, especially a child.
Pediatric dentistry has seen this for years; but general dentistry has actually seen situations where kindergarten children up to the range of 40% have cavities, just by the time they get to school. And, it has been reported that diseases such as childhood asthma and diabetes are a lot less common than tooth decay.
Let’s pause for a moment and consider the consequences that pediatric dentists have to consider. Are all children candidates for sealants? If they cut back on candy and sweets, wouldn’t their teeth just repair themselves?
Maybe, and maybe not. Especially in the case of pediatric dentists, because the pain of a tooth problem, or dental pain, causes poor oral health in children. And these kids are missing school three times more than other children. One can only wonder: would sealants help in preventing these problems?
Here is something to think about next time you are visiting your kid’s dentist: 25% of Americans only brush once a day, instead of twice as the American Dental Association recommends.
As a parent, talking about oral hygiene, sealants and other options that might help in maintaining their bright and healthy smile. With all the advances in general dentistry and pediatric dentistry, especially, there many ways to make sure your children are trained to take care of their oral health.
Awareness and upkeep are two great ways to make sure to stay on top of things…and to keep your children smiling!