All parents want the best for their children. You want your child to be healthy and safe. Now that there’s a pandemic, you want to keep them under close supervision.
With businesses re-opening, there are many dental clinics accepting patients again. Naturally, you’re concerned for the safety of your child when they go to their dentist.
The truth is, it’s perfectly safe for children to go to the dentist again. It is important for your kid to have good dental health, especially if you’ve delayed their usual checkups and cleaning because of the pandemic.
Even if you’re diligent with your child’s daily brushing and flossing, it is best to have their teeth checked by a dentist. A dentist can examine your child’s teeth for signs of decay. Their gums will be checked for signs of infection, too. A dentist is also the best person to give your child’s teeth proper cleaning.
Your child’s dental health should be regularly examined to avoid dental problems that can arise in the future. You might be preventing serious damage that can happen in the long run.
But based on the National Poll on Children’s Health, 60% of parents in the U.S. have attempted to hire preventive dental care services for their children since the pandemic began. Unfortunately, 40% of parents haven’t received the care they seek. Mainly, parents are scared that their children will be exposed to the virus during a visit to the dentist.
With millions getting vaccinated, it is now safe to go to the dentist again. And while you wait for your dental appointment, here’s what you can do to take care of your child’s teeth today.
For Children Aged 6 Years Old and Above
Teach your child to brush their teeth regularly. Supervise their routine, and let them brush their teeth twice daily. Make sure that they are using fluoride toothpaste.
Drinking fluoridated water can also benefit your child’s teeth. Your tap water should have 0.7 milligrams per liter of fluoride in it. Check with your water utility company about the amount of fluoride in your tap water. If there’s not enough fluoride in it, ask your dentist to supplement your child’s fluoride intake. Dentists can prescribe oral fluoride supplements in the form of lozenges, tablets, or drops.
You can also ask your dentist to give your child sealants. Typically, children ages 6 to 14 should have sealants on their teeth to protect molars and premolars from cavities. Decay can develop in the grooves and depressions of these teeth during children’s cavity-prone years.
For Babies and Toddlers
For babies without teeth, use a wet, soft, clean cloth to wipe their gums twice a day. Do it once after the first feeding in the morning and again after the last feeding at night. Leaving babies with a bottle while sleeping can lead to cavities when teeth erupt. Wiping your baby’s gums can get rid of the sugar and bacteria that milk and food leave behind.
You can brush your baby’s teeth when they first erupt. Use a small, fine-bristled toothbrush dipped in plain water to clean your baby’s teeth twice a day. Avoid using toothpaste with fluoride. However, by the time your baby reaches the age of two, you can ask your dentist if it’s possible to put fluoride varnish on your baby’s teeth.
When to Go to the Dentist
As soon as you spot a problem with your child’s teeth, go to the dentist. If left untreated, many dental problems leave irreparable damage. Cavities, for example, can lead to tooth decay. Tooth decay is a chronic disease that can cause pain, infection, learning disabilities, and developmental delays in children. Your child might also have difficulty speaking and chewing because of tooth decay.
Teeth misalignment is another major problem with children’s oral health. It gives children an uneven bite and causes overlapping, crooked teeth. If your child’s teeth look overcrowded, it can be an overbite.
An overbite or malocclusion is when your child’s upper and lower jaws don’t have the same size. If the upper jaw is bigger, it’s called an overbite. If the lower jaw is bigger, it’s called an underbite.
Children with teeth and jaw misalignment should visit a family orthodontist who can fix the problem. Most
likely, a child with misalignment will wear braces.
According to the American Dental Association, COVID-19 infection rates among dentists are low. Like many other medical facilities, dentists take proper and CDC-recommended precautions to lessen the transmission of COVID-19.
When you go to the dentist, expect them to wear proper personal protective equipment (PPE). The clinic is clean and disinfected, and their medical equipment is sterilized. The dental chair and the exposed area surrounding it are also disinfected between each appointment. When you enter, allow the staff to take your temperature. Be patient in answering health checks and questions as well. You should do all of these for the safety of your child.
