HOW YOU CAN HELP YOUR CHILD’S DENTAL HEALTH

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Did you know that February is National Children’s Dental Health Month? This tradition was started right here in Ohio—all the way back in 1941! And here at Hutta & Price Orthodontics, we think that dental health is a great reason to celebrate.

Helping your child develop good oral hygiene habits while they’re still young is one of the most important things you can do for their health and well-being. If your child is able to develop a good routine, that will set them up for a lifetime of healthy teeth! 

Dental health is important at every age, and it’s especially important if your child is undergoing orthodontic treatment. The brackets and wires of braces might make it trickier to brush and floss, but it is absolutely essential! While your child has braces, they are especially susceptible to cavities and tooth decay since food debris is easily caught in the appliances. If your child’s oral hygiene slips during their orthodontic treatment, it can lead to cavities and tooth discoloration.  

Luckily, Dr. Hutta and Dr. Price have some great tips to help your child develop and maintain great oral health:

  • Take your child to the dentist regularly. Ideally, your child should be visiting the dentist twice each year. Tooth decay is the most common chronic disease among children, and much of this tooth decay goes undiagnosed and untreated. In fact, the CDC estimates that 20% of children experience undiagnosed tooth decay. Although many people mistakenly believe that the oral health of baby teeth isn’t important—since they are considered “disposable”—this is a harmful myth. Baby teeth help to guide a child’s permanent teeth into place. When baby teeth are lost prematurely to dental decay, the permanent teeth are much more likely to be misaligned. Your orthodontist will thank you if you can help prevent premature tooth loss for your child! 
  • Set a good example. Your children look up to you, and if they observe you prioritizing your oral health, they’re much more likely to be compliant when it comes time to brush and floss. Because oral hygiene is necessary for a healthy smile transformation, set the example for your child’s dental health.
  • Schedule an appointment with an orthodontist. Tooth alignment is a key component of oral health. When the teeth and bite are misaligned, this can lead to a whole array of dental issues down the road. We recommend that your child visits Dr. Hutta or Dr. Price no later than the age of seven. Although this might seem young, this formative stage is a great time for us to check out the early growth of the permanent teeth, consider early intervention, and begin to make a plan for correcting orthodontic issues. 

We hope you take this month as a reminder to prioritize dental health—both your own, and your child’s. Oral hygiene should be a priority at every age!

If your child hasn’t seen an orthodontist yet, this is a great time to schedule their first appointment and set them up for dental health success. Call us at Hutta & Price Orthodontics today to get started.