Six Compelling Benefits of Routine Pediatric Dental Check-ups

As a parent, you should have your child visit the dentist within six months of the first tooth erupting, but not later than twelve months. After the first visit, your child should see us every six months. Many parents think this is overkill, but routine dental exams are worth the commitment.

Here are notable benefits of routine dental check-ups.

1. Early detection of issues: Dentists are skilled at detecting even the tiniest issues in the mouth. When your child visits us, we inspect their oral structures to detect and treat infections, cavities, and other problems before they become major headaches.
2. Prevention: Children aren’t thorough with oral hygiene as they still need to master proper brushing and flossing techniques. Poor oral hygiene makes children susceptible to cavities, bad breath, and other health issues. Regular dental cleanings during check-ups eliminate plaque and other unhealthy deposits to maintain a healthy smile.
3. Monitoring oral development: Routine exams allow us to monitor your child’s oral development, including teeth eruption, the shedding of baby teeth, and jaw alignment. This routine examination is the key to identifying and addressing issues like crowding or bite problems early to prevent extensive treatments in the future.  
4. Improved aesthetics: Like adults, your child can be self-conscious when their teeth don’t look beautiful. Pediatric cleanings remove surface stains and unsightly deposits to reveal a clean, gorgeous smile.
5. Education: Dental visits provide an excellent opportunity for parents to learn ways of caring for their child’s oral health. We offer nutritional advice, oral hygiene education, and advice on how oral habits like thumb sucking, baby bottles, and tongue thrusting can affect your child’s oral health. We also teach your child best practices for maintaining their teeth and gums to ensure they take control of their oral health.
6. Managing dental anxiety: Routine dental exams help children see dental visits as a regular part of their healthcare routine, significantly reducing anxiety over time. Frequent interactions with the dentist help build trust, and children grow up recognizing the importance of dental visits in their dental care.

Even though baby teeth will eventually fall out to pave the way for permanent teeth, caring for them is vital. Baby teeth act like placeholders for adult teeth. Losing them too early can cause an unhealthy eruption of permanent teeth, causing misalignments, overcrowding, impaction, and other issues. Furthermore, baby teeth are vital in eating and speech, so losing them early to decay and other issues may affect these functions.

Please don’t wait for dental problems to arise before seeing a pediatric dentist. Be proactive with your child’s oral health; you’ll find it affordable and less stressful for your little one. Whether it’s your child’s first dental visit or routine exam, call (310) 832-5133 to schedule an appointment with Groat Pediatric Dentistry, San Pedro, CA. We also serve the surrounding cities of Rancho Palos Verdes, CA, Carson, CA, Gardena, CA, Long Beach, CA, Signal Hill, CA; Harbor City, CA, Torrance, CA, Redondo Beach, CA, Lawndale, CA; Palos Verdes Estates; and Rolling Hills, CA. We create a positive, stress-free environment around dental care to help kids feel more comfortable during exams.