There are many misconceptions when it comes to a child's oral care. Some believe that, because the teeth their children have are not permanent in their early life, caring for them isn't an important task. In reality, there are many benefits of taking your child to a dentist appointment starting at a young age.



Forming Good Habits

It is important for a child to get used to the dentist office environment and familiarize themselves with the process of typical dental practices. This lowers the risk of developing any dental phobias later in life. Those who struggle with anxiety often put off their visits to the family dentist, leading to worsening oral health issues.

Tracking Development

If dentists can become familiar with a patient's teeth at an early stage, this gives them the ability to notice potential issues and correct them before they even need to be treated. Additionally, they may be able to identify tooth decay in earlier stages and perform preventative treatments to clean and protect the teeth.

Parental Support

As a parent, you are not expected to know everything right off the bat. That's why bringing your child in can be beneficial to you as well. Learning how to properly brush and floss your child's teeth can not only set them up for success but can also prevent you from taking unnecessary trips to the dentist! You may also learn how nutrition can impact oral health and be able to stop issues, such as thumb sucking, from altering the development of your child's teeth.

Proper Speech Development

Primary teeth not only help guide permanent teeth into the correct position in the mouth but are also extremely important to the speech development of your child. Having a dentist evaluate the setting of your child's teeth can prevent speech problems that could last a lifetime.

According to the American College of Prosthodontists, oral cancer is on the rise in people below the age of 40. Setting up healthy oral habits at a young age may be able to limit the risk of such diseases, and getting your child to a dentist early in life will have positive impacts on their physical and social-emotional health. Give Blake Ristvedt Dental a call today to schedule your child's first dentist appointment!