Factors that affect your Child’s Oral Health

It’s 2022 and we are now living in a post-pandemic world. There aren’t simply enough precautions that you can take to protect your loved ones, especially your kids. From their physical health to their mental health, as a parent, you only accept what is best for you. However, many parents end up making the mistake of ignoring their child’s dental health, especially during their younger years, since these primary teeth will eventually fall off.

However, the truth is that primary teeth are the placeholders for permanent teeth, and hence, it is of utmost importance to look after them. It is advisable to take your little one to the best pediatric dentist in Carlsbad as soon as their first tooth erupts.

Things that can Impact Your Child’s Dental Health

Poor oral health is bad news, irrespective of your child’s age. It increases the risk of infections, gum diseases, and cavities. These issues can infest bigger problems in the future that might need more invasive procedures. Instead, it is advisable to take your kid to a Pediatric Dental Specialist in Carlsbad for regular checkups and ask them for preventive measures so that they won’t have to undergo extensive procedures later on. Preventive measures can also include keeping an out on several factors that affect your child’s dental health. The following are some factors that can affect your child’s oral health:

1. Eating Habits

Your child’s diet can largely impact their pearly whites. A balanced diet must contain an adequate amount of calcium which helps in keeping your teeth healthy and strong. Furthermore, fresh vegetables are a great way to keep the gums and the teeth clean in between meals and brushing times. These also encourage the production of saliva. Saliva consists of some phosphate and calcium which helps in remineralizing the teeth that may have been attacked by acids. Starchy, sugary, or acidic foods must be enjoyed in a limited amount as they can result in tooth decay.

2. Digit Sucking

Most kids have the habit of sucking their thumbs during the early years of their lives. It helps them in calming down during anxiety-provoking situations and most parents see it as a harmless habit. And for the most part of it, it is not necessarily harmful. However, thumb-sucking can result in some dental issues even before the first tooth has erupted. Thumb sucking is known to affect the growth of the jaw as well as the roof of the mouth. It can affect the alignment of the teeth and can cause bad bites. If your kid has crossed the age of 4 and still continues to such their thumbs, it is advisable to visit Carlsbad Pediatric Smiles with them.

3. Genetics

One of the most common dental myths is that oral health is mostly genetics and nothing can be done about it. However, this isn’t entirely the truth. Sure, genetics plays a role in tooth and jaw development. However, if parents demonstrate good oral hygiene habits, children are sure to follow them. Moreover, issues such as gum infections and tooth decay are not caused because of genetics. Preventive measures can help you in protecting your kids against these issues. Make sure to visit the Carlsbad Pediatric Dental Care with your kids to learn more about these measures.

Conclusion

Another aspect that affects dental health is diabetes. Dental problems are quite common in children with type 1 diabetes. Thus, when it comes to good oral health you need to look a little bit further than just brushing and flossing and pay attention to their diet, habits, and overall health. Taking them to the Carlsbad Pediatric Dentistry for regular dental checkups is also advisable.