Most pediatricians suggest starting dental care when a child’s first tooth appears. Preventative dental care helps children begin lifelong habits before oral obstacles become more critical and often more expensive.
Promotes Normal Speech Development
From babies crying to a child’s first words, speech is the first method of communication. Speech allows people to express their thoughts, desires, and feelings. Speech and language development is often indicative of a child’s overall developmental ability.
If a child’s oral cavity is congenitally or developmentally abnormal, this can directly affect speech and language advancement. Early diagnosis from dental professionals is crucial to intervening in speech impairments.
Proper Nutrition
Proper nutrition and preventive dentistry have a symbiotic relationship. Enjoying nutritious diets rich in vitamins and minerals make your teeth and gums healthy and strong.
Some nutritional building blocks that are essential to overall and dental health include:
- Calcium: Helps build and strengthen bones that contribute to structural support, including your tooth enamel and jawbone. Dairy products, dark leafy greens, and fatty fish (like sardines and salmon) are considered good sources of calcium.
- Vitamin D: Assists the body in calcium absorption. The easiest way to obtain vitamin D is through sun exposure. Some cereals are also fortified with vitamin D.
- Vitamin A: Prevents dry mouth, boosts the healing capabilities in your oral cavity and encourages good health for mucus membranes throughout the body. Think orange! Vitamin A is found in orange-colored fruits and vegetables rich in beta-carotene, such as pumpkin, carrots, and sweet potatoes!
- Vitamin C: Strengthens the soft tissue in your mouth and helps prevent periodontal disease. Citrus fruits are abundant in vitamin C.
- Potassium: When paired with magnesium, potassium prevents the blood from becoming too acidic and stimulates bone mineral density. Potassium is located in bananas, avocados, and prunes.
A life with only soft foods sounds pretty lackluster. Preventive dentistry can keep teeth and gums strong enough to continue enjoying crunchy, tougher foods like carrots, broccoli, and fortified cereals.
Prevent Restorative Work
Restorative dentistry is often subsequent to inconsistent preventative dental care. Missing, damaged, or diseased teeth are frequently the effect of neglectful oral hygiene. Restorative dental work involves rehabilitating the structure of the oral cavity to manage diseases and give the teeth function and feel again. Preventive dental care can help avert the necessity for porcelain or silver crowns, bridges, bone grafting, and dental implants in the future.
Overall Wellness
Preventative dentistry can help prevent ailments not just in childhood, but for life. Oral health is connected to general wellness and avoiding underlying systemic conditions. Preventive dentist helps children avoid oral health problems like periodontal disease, cavities, oral cancer, and more, that can lead to serious overall health issues.
For example, periodontal disease is linked to other health conditions, such as:
- Heart disease and endocarditis
- Diabetes
- Rheumatoid Arthritis
- Kidney disease
- Respiratory infections
- Infertility and pregnancy complications among women
- Dementia
Schedule a Consultation
Preventative dental care leads to healthier, more confident kids. Set your child on the path toward optimal oral and overall health by committing to practicing and teaching good oral hygiene habits today.
Reserve an appointment with Dr. Hardt by calling 559-784-6523 or messaging us online at your earliest convenience.
