Key benefits of early dental exposure for toddlers from our dentist at Byfleet Dental
Dental care is important regardless of your age, but when you are a parent trying to get your toddler to attend a dental check-up, it can feel like an uphill struggle!
Let’s be honest; very few children (if any) like attending dental check-ups. And while it can be tempting to skip a few appointments for the sake of some peace and quiet, it can have detrimental impacts on their oral and general health.
This is why many dental surgeries, including Byfleet Dental, support early exposure to dental care for children, to avoid future issues from occurring.
At Byfleet Dental, we care about your child’s teeth and their overall health. Therefore, our dentist in West Byfleet recommends getting your child to attend their first dental appointment before they reach a year old. This will have many benefits for their future and will allow you to bypass those tantrums when it comes to getting them into the dental chair.
But why does our dentist in West Byfleet suggest such early exposure to dental care? Read on to find out.
Familiarity
One way to boost your child’s confidence in any situation is to expose them to it as early as possible.
And when it comes to visiting our dentist in West Byfleet, this rule is no different. Even if you child has only just cut their first tooth by the age of 12 months, exposing them to the sounds, the smells and the routine of a dental check-up will allow them to become familiar with it. In the future, this will remove any associated fears and will prevent them from developing phobias.
Better hygiene
Children love sweets and this is a key reason why early exposure is important.
Maintaining the routine of check-ups occurring every 6 months will prevent your child from developing tooth decay and cavities, and will allow our team at Byfleet Dental to perform regular preventive procedures such as the application of fissure and fluoride sealants.
Preventive
Alongside being preventive against decay, regular dental visits can also help to predict other dental issues; a key one being anything orthodontic.
With the technology we have available, our team at Byfleet Dental are better equipped than ever before to accurately predict whether or not your child will need to wear braces, and can prevent the length of any orthodontic treatments with the use of aligners.
Better health
There have been innumerable research papers published which have linked dental health to general health.
If your child has excess levels of plaque in their mouth, they are at a higher risk of developing diabetes, cardiovascular issues and even cancer. And as early exposure to dental care can lead to a healthier relationship with dentistry throughout both childhood and adult life, it is unlikely that any area of plaque will go unseen.
So remember, getting your toddler to have a good relationship with our team at Byfleet Dental will set them up for a great smile and a healthier life.