Preventive pediatric dentistry is a way to maintain the oral health of the little ones in the best possible way, here we present the main keys to have it correctly.
What is prevention?
In dentistry, prevention is known as those measures that are taken in advance to avoid the appearance of possible oral problems and pathologies.
At
pediatric dentistry
Prevention plays an essential role in pediatric dentistry, hence preventive dentistry. In addition to solving problems that the child’s dentition may present, the pediatric dentist promotes the development of the permanent dentition with the necessary treatments. At this stage, prevention is very important, since the evolution of the teeth will mark the oral health of the child for the rest of his or her life.
Likewise, the specialist is also in charge of teaching proper oral hygiene habits that, if learned efficiently, will stay with you forever and will prevent other oral health problems from appearing.
At what age should the first visit to the pediatric dentist be made?
The right time to take your children to the dentist for the first time is when they turn one year old. After that, it is best to have an annual check-up to monitor your child’s oral health while the baby teeth are developing. This helps to prevent other possible pathologies such as caries and to normalize dental visits.
Why is prevention important in primary dentition if they are going to fall out?
The condition of baby teeth is very important for several reasons:
They are in charge of making room for the permanent teeth.
The roots of the primary teeth are resorbed and the body reuses these minerals to finish mineralizing the permanent teeth.
Baby teeth play a fundamental role in a child’s phonetics, allowing him/her to pronounce each sound properly as he/she learns to speak.
Another of its functions is cutting, crushing and chewing. As the primary teeth erupt, complementary feeding is gradually incorporated into the child’s diet.
Baby teeth favor the optimal development of the maxillofacial structures at the osseous and muscular level.
Cavities in primary teeth increase the possibility of having the same problem in the permanent dentition.
For all these reasons, baby teeth play an essential role and, therefore, prevention is vital.
What are the preventive methods in pediatric dentistry?
For an adult to have good oral health, he or she must have had a good preventive system in childhood. Some of the methods for carrying out child prevention are:
Health education: it is essential that parents educate their children about oral health issues. An example might be attending an educational lecture on oral hygiene.
Action on diet: a balanced diet is necessary for healthy oral health. In this sense, it is necessary that parents instill in their children the importance of eating properly, as well as not consuming candies and sweets in excess, as these are the culprits that cause the dreaded cavities to appear.
Toothbrushing habit: it is convenient for children to get into the habit of brushing their teeth after every meal at an early age. This way, you will get them to learn how to do it properly from the very beginning. In this regard, we advise you to opt for a suitable toothpaste and a soft toothbrush.
Fluoride: Should fluoride be administered to children? This is one of the most frequently asked questions to our pediatric dentists. The truth is that fluoride is one of the best ways to help prevent tooth decay and wear. It is a nutritive mineral that improves the quality of tooth enamel. In this way, children’s teeth will be more resistant to cavities.
Pit and fissure sealants are a preventive measure to avoid cavities. It consists of placing a material as a protective barrier to prevent food debris and bacterial plaque from sticking to the grooves and fissures of the occlusal surfaces of the molars. This reduces the appearance of caries in these areas, which are the most favorable for its development.
Periodic checkups: children need to have their oral health checked frequently to discover any problems as soon as possible and to solve them. In this way, the presence of caries and other possible pathologies will be avoided.
Why is preventive pediatric dentistry important?
Preventive dentistry (LINK) is the treatment of dental problems from a different perspective. We do not wait for the problem to occur, but promote proper oral health and hygiene from an early age and apply preventive treatments to guide proper dental growth.
One of these treatments is interceptive orthodontics, in which we build a perfect smile from childhood.
In addition, we encourage
correct tooth brushing
one of the most important elements in the prevention of oral problems in children, as well as regular visits to the dentist, to discover any problem as soon as possible and find a solution.
After understanding the importance of child prevention in oral health, from our dental clinic in Barcelona we encourage you to meet our team of pediatric dentists, who will help you take care of the oral health of your children. They are specialists in dealing with children and will make sure they leave the office with a smile on their face. They will be delighted to meet you!
