Dental FAQs For Kids
In addition to providing specialized pediatric care, our team at Ford Dental Group has developed a family-oriented care environment. The goal of this practice is to help your child feel welcome when you bring them to our office for care. Our team works to build trust with your child so that they are less stressed during procedures. We also work to keep you informed about your child’s oral health and guide you to make the best decisions to meet your child’s needs.
What Is The Importance Of Baby Teeth?
Most people assume baby teeth are not that important since children lose them once their adult teeth begin to come in. However, that is not the case. Baby or primary teeth actually have several purposes. First, they help children eat solid foods. Second, they are necessary for young children to learn how to pronounce words properly. The tongue needs to touch against the back of the teeth in order to create certain sounds.
Baby teeth also serve as a guide for adult teeth. They leave space in the jaw for adult teeth to grow. If a baby tooth is lost too early, the adult teeth below and around it may not come in correctly. This could lead to a misalignment that requires braces or other treatment to correct.
What Does It Mean To Be Tongue-Tied?
One commonly encountered developmental problem that can be identified by a pediatric dentist is being tongue-tied. This problem affects nearly 10 percent of Americans and can lead to significant developmental delays. This condition occurs when your child has excess connective tissue underneath their tongue, which limits their range of motion in their tongue and hinders them from properly pronouncing words when they learn to speak. Fortunately, removing a tongue-tie is a simple procedure that will benefit your child greatly.
How Do You Avoid Dental Emergencies With Kids?
It is not always possible to avoid emergency situations. There are some steps that you can take, however, to protect your children’s teeth and their mouths.
Children who participate in active sports should wear a mouthguard in order to protect their teeth and the soft tissues of their mouths. Be sure to discourage your children from the use of their teeth to open plastic packages. This is a habit we are likely all guilty of doing, but it should be discouraged.
Remember the risks of running with objects in the mouth. Whether suckers, hard candies, pencils or toys, this poses a risk for the health of the teeth. Take care to block stairway access, and to protect little ones from hard edges.
Contact Us To Learn More
If you are ready to learn more about the many great pediatric dental services provided by our team at Ford Dental Group, then it is time to schedule an appointment. You can reach our office by calling us at today. You can also come by our facility and meet our team to make sure it is the right fit for your child.