Pediatric dental disease (tooth decay) continues to affect millions of children in the United States, particularly those within the teenage bracket. In fact, it affects nearly a fifth of all children in the country, bringing it to the top of the list of most common chronic childhood illnesses.
And in the teenage population, more than half has at least one decayed tooth. Although the risks are high, this doesn’t mean that your children will automatically develop tooth decay. This condition is highly preventable, so long as you join forces with your little ones in keeping it at bay.
With the right combination of at-home care and routine and professionally-carried out dental check-ups, you can help your kids maintain the health and strength of their permanent pearly whites.
Detecting cavities early on
General Dentistry Limited suggests you partner up with a dentist in Sioux Falls, SD as soon as possible, as this can make a huge difference in early detection and diagnosis of cavities.
One of the primary goals of your dentist during a check-up is to examine for existing cavities and determine which ones are at risk of developing decay.
While you may do your own examination at home, you can only detect those that you see in the mirror. Dentists have specialized tools and equipment to check the areas you don’t have access to, especially in between the teeth.
Checking for plaque and tartar
A dental check-up also consists of examining the teeth for plaque and tartar, followed by their removal. Plaque, a clear, sticky layer consisting of decay-causing bacteria, needs immediate removal, or it can become hard tartar.
Once tartar hardens and builds up on the teeth, the development of oral diseases will soon follow.
The bottom line: The primary reason behind regular dental check-ups
It’s important to bring your kids in (and yourself) for a dental check-up regularly because this largely contributes to keeping the teeth and gums healthy. And this means significantly reducing the risks of tooth decay, amongst many other potential ailments.
And as a final reminder, you should schedule this at least twice a year, or every six months, to ensure that your kids remain protected against decay and other dental problems.
