As your trusted source of orthodontics, we at Wilson & Hendrickson Orthodontics are glad to help you with all your orthodontic needs. If you’re in or around Topeka and looking for braces, clear braces, or Invisalign, we’re glad to provide you with our efficient orthodontic treatments in order to give you a healthy, lifelong smile. However, healthy smiles aren’t just achieved overnight. They require a commitment to oral hygiene starting from childhood. Since it’s National Children’s Dental Health Month, we’d like to take a moment to discuss the importance of childhood dental care.
The Importance of Childhood Dental Care
While we all understand the importance of keeping our teeth healthy, many people feel that it’s not quite as critical to care for baby teeth because children will just lose them soon. However, this line of thinking couldn’t be further from the truth. Baby teeth play a critical role in a child’s development for the following reasons:
- First, baby teeth will allow your child to properly chew, eat, and speak.
- Baby teeth serve as guides for a child’s permanent teeth. They will hold space for the permanent teeth and help ensure that they don’t come in crooked.
- In addition, building good oral hygiene habits as a child will likely lead to a lifetime of maintaining these habits.
The Causes of Childhood Tooth Decay
There are two main causes of tooth decay in children. The first is the overconsumption of sugary foods. Sugary foods are a major culprit for childhood tooth decay, so you’ll want to adjust your child’s diet accordingly. It’s best to limit your child’s intake of candy, soda, fruit juices, and other foods that are high in sugar. The other cause of tooth decay in children is poor oral hygiene. In order for your child to keep his or her teeth in a healthy condition, it’s important for your child to brush twice a day and floss as well.
Signs Your Child May Have a Cavity
Your child may have a cavity if he or she has:
- A painful sensation to things that are either hot or cold.
- A dull white band on the tooth surface that’s closest to the gum line.
- A yellow, brown, or black band on the tooth surface that’s closest to the gum line, signifying a progression of tooth decay.
- Teeth that look like brown or black stumps.
If you happen to notice any of these signs, please get your child to the dentist as soon as possible. When left untreated, cavities can turn into more serious problems that may require root canals or even tooth extraction.
Contact Your Topeka Orthodontist Today!
If you have any questions or comments for us, please feel free to contact us. We’re glad to help you in any way we can. If you’re in or around Topeka and interested in any of our orthodontic treatments, such as braces, clear braces, or Invisalign, we encourage you to fill out our appointment request form or give us a call. Our Topeka office phone number is (785) 272-3722. We can’t wait to hear from you!
