Taking your child for their first dentist appointment can be both an exciting and nerve racking time. That’s why, here at Inland Family Dentistry, we do everything we can to make sure your child has a comfortable, enjoyable experience when they visit our office. Of course, as a parent, we want you to be comfortable and educated about your child’s oral health too!

To help with that, in this article, we’re going to be sharing some fun and interesting facts about pediatric dentistry that are sure to make you smile and help your child build a positive relationship with their dentist.

1. Choosing a “Dental Home” for Your Child

As silly as that may sound, choosing and sticking with the same dentist for the duration of your child’s oral care is one of the best ways to ensure they have a positive impression of the dentist. Not only will this make it easier when it’s time for a checkup, but having a consistent “Dental Home” will also help your child build a strong oral hygiene routine.

Another added benefit of choosing a “Dental Home” for your child is getting to build a relationship with the dentist. Seeing a familiar face every time they come for a checkup can make a world of difference, especially for children that make experience anxiety.

2. It’s Never Too Early For Their 1st Visit

Did you know that your baby’s first set of teeth are also known as milk teeth? These 20 temporary teeth are already fully formed at birth and rest just under the gum line until they begin emerging as early as 6 months of age! However, just because your baby won’t have any teeth for the first few months doesn’t mean you have to wait to go to the dentist.

Here at Inland Family Dentistry, we encourage parents to come in for an initial visit as early as they like. Our friendly, professional hygienists and dentists will be happy to share the various techniques you can use to ensure your baby has a clean, healthy mouth even before their first teeth start to come in.Once their teeth have started to come in we offer our Teddy Bear Checkups to help your child get comfortable at the dentist.

3. Prehistoric Children Rarely Had Cavities

That’s right, prehistoric civilizations had drastically lower rates of cavities despite not even having access to something as simple as a toothbrush and toothpaste! Historians discovered that cavities didn’t start becoming a major problem until humans learned to farm roughly 10,000 years ago, introducing grains into the diet and all of the bacteria producing mayhem that comes along with it. Ancient farmers have been found with nearly 50% of their teeth decayed!

In today’s modern world, it’s more important than ever that you pay close attention to your child’s oral routine to ensure cavities never become a problem. Even though it can feel like a losing battle between the soda, junk food, and ever enticing candy options, having a good dentist will keep your child’s dental health on track.

4. Chewing Gum Can Protect Your Teeth

Did you know that kids in the United States (well, their parents) collectively spend just over half a billion dollars on chewing gum each year? When broken down, that translates to 444 pieces of gum being sold every second! Even though gum often gets a bad reputation for being nothing more than a stick of chewy sugar, that’s not always the case. In fact, studies have found that some chewing gum can actually be good for your child’s teeth.

Before we start talking about how gum can help protect your teeth, it’s important to mention that we’re strictly talking about sugar-free gum. Of the varieties you can choose from, studies have found that gum sweetened with xylitol actually prevent the growth of cavity causing bacteria in the mouth. Simply check the nutrition labels the next time you’re at the store.

5. Each Person Has Unique Teeth

Just like fingerprints, no two people can have an identical set of teeth. Don’t believe us? Do a quick Google search on teeth to see just how many different shapes and sizes they can come in. Of course, that’s only part of what makes your teeth special. The other half of the puzzle is the grooves and unique bite pattern that detectives are able to use to ID criminals during an investigation. Pretty cool, huh?

We’re Here For Your Child’s Dental Needs
Trying to find the perfect pediatric dentist for your baby or child? Give us a call today to book an initial appointment and experience the Inland Family Dentistry difference for yourself!

Even though the answer to this question may seem simple enough, did you know that most American children don’t have their first dental appointment until they’re more than 2 years old? Whether we’re talking about a baby whose first teeth are just starting to cut through, or a 6 year old that’s finally losing their primary teeth, the need for consistent dental checkups doesn’t change.

So, to help answer the many questions that parents have regarding their children’s oral health, we’ve decided to take an in-depth look at why pediatric dentistry is so important. In this article, we’ll be covering all of the most common concerns, as well as some questions you may not have even considered.

1. Baby Teeth Are More Important Than You Think

Because your child’s first set of teeth eventually fall out anyway, it’s easy to think they’re not all that important. However, most parents are surprised to learn just how integral baby teeth are to the future development of their child’s oral health.

According to the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry (AAPD), keeping your child’s baby teeth in place until they fall out naturally is important for the following reasons:

– Normal speech development
– Sufficient spacing for permanent teeth
– Proper chewing helps maintain good nutrition
– A healthy smile helps your child feel good about themselves

That’s right, those cute little pearly whites that make each and every smile a picture worthy moment do a lot more than simply fall out. Because of this we recommend that you take your child to the dentist early in life to help get them comfortable with the dentist and to make sure their teeth are healthy.

Doing so will help parents build a regular checkup schedule that can keep your child’s oral health on track year after year.

2. Tooth Decay Affects 40% of Kindergarteners

Just because your child’s first set of teeth are only temporary doesn’t mean they can’t suffer from the same tooth decay that permanent teeth are susceptible to. The main reason this statistic is so high ultimately comes down to the quality of oral care performed at home.

Taking your child in for regular dental checkups (recommended at least 2 per year) will not only help ensure their teeth are growing properly, but it can also help keep you up to date with the best dental hygiene practices.

Even though the purpose of pediatric dental checkups is to make sure the patient’s teeth are healthy, here at Inland Family Dentistry, we spend a lot of time making sure both parents and children are fully educated on what they can be doing to prevent common oral problems such as tooth decay and gingivitis.

3. Baby Teeth Need Professional Cleaning Too

Your child’s teeth are no different than your own, and the recommendation is to get a dental cleaning every 6 months; the true is same for your children and their baby teeth. Taking your child in for regular dental checkups can also help give you peace of mind.

Similar to permanent teeth, primary teeth (baby teeth) are littered with tough to reach places and susceptible to plaque that can build up along the gumline. Visiting your local dentist on a regular basis will take care of the stubborn plaque and tartar that even the best of home routines can’t get rid of.

Additionally, having a consistent dental provider and office makes it easier for both you and the dentist to stay on top of the various changes that are constantly taking place in your child’s mouth. Between X-rays, detailed records, and the invaluable bond your dentist will form with you and your child, it only makes sense to schedule regular checkups!

Is Your Child Ready For Their Dental Checkup?

At Inland Family Dentistry, we often start a child’s dental experience by exposing them to mom or dad’s dental appointment. Often one family member will bring in the child while a parent has his or her teeth cleaned. They can also observe a sibling as well. This experience makes sitting in the dental chair fun. It also means the kiddo has plenty of time to play in the kids’ room and visit the treasure chest.

Over time and by creating a trusted environment for the child, dental cleanings become a welcome experience. Where else can you get orange flavored toothpaste and leave with a new trendy-themed toothbrush? Not to mention, one of our assistants takes great pride in making sure our toy selection is on point. Building the foundation for a long and healthy relationship for kids to take pride in their oral health is the goal. The saying an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure couldn’t apply better to dentistry. Teaching children to take care of their teeth is obviously the priority, but we think we can have loads of fun along the way.