The importance of quality dental care is often understated, especially when it comes to the dental health of children. It may surprise you to know that tooth decay is the most common chronic childhood disease, above more often talked about ailments such as obesity, diabetes, asthma, and allergies.
And while K-12 students lose more than 51 million hours each year due to dental health problems according to the Center for Health and Health Care in Schools, percentages remain that may seem alarming. For instance, only one out of four kids has been to the dentist before entering kindergarten and a third of schools still refer students for treatment of dental health problems.
Quality dental care, then, is extremely important, for kids and for adults. There are numerous products or habits that can affect the health of our teeth every day and many of which may go unnoticed. Coffee can cause yellow or brown stains on the teeth, and tobacco too. Loose food can become stuck in the gaps between teeth and up against the gums, which could lead to bacterial infections.
Children are even more vulnerable, as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention states that nearly one in five children has untreated cavities: 19.5% of kids aged 2-5 and 22.9% of kids aged 6-19.
Excellent dental treatment, when you find the right pediatric dentist such as one you think practices quality dental care, can help resolve or stem these issues, as well as providing important education for your child. A childrens dentist can provide instruction on the proper care for teeth and gums, best methods for brushing and flossing, and education about dental hygiene. Quality dental care can lead to a beautiful smile.
Dental health is not all about treatment however. One of the most important aspects to consider about you and your child’s dental health pertains to sports. Contact sports can account for many tooth injuries; for children, Colgate estimates that 39% of tooth injuries come from sports. Two pieces of equipment that can reduce tooth injuries while playing sports are the mouth guard and helmets. Still, it’s important to receive quality dental care if a tooth injury is received.
One way to mitigate some of these problems is to practice good dental hygiene. Flossing regularly, brushing teeth twice a day, and using mouthwash are considered to be methods of reducing problems in-between visits to the dentist and of maintaining or achieving good oral health.
