5 Myths We Hear As a Dentist for Kids

Bringing your child to a dentist for kids is an excellent way to keep them in good oral health. While here, we will examine them, clean their teeth, provide necessary treatments and answer any questions you may have. We encourage you to ask questions because it allows us to share information and clear up any myths that may be circulating. There are numerous misconceptions, but here are a few that we frequently hear in our office.

#1. Baby teeth don’t matter

Many parents think that permanent teeth are more important than baby teeth and fail to care for their child's teeth while they are young. This is typically due to a lack of understanding regarding how important baby teeth actually are. Baby teeth make it possible for a child to develop positive and clear speech patterns. They also preserve the space for permanent adult teeth to grow in. Early tooth loss can create challenges with overcrowding in addition to speech and eating difficulties. Essentially, a child's baby teeth are incredibly important.

#2. Only older kids need to brush and floss

Since baby teeth are important, children of all ages need to brush and floss their teeth. Naturally, a 2-year-old will be unable to do so on his or her own so a parent needs to assist on a daily basis. We recommend that children brush and floss daily but preferably brush twice a day to prevent cavities.

#3. Sugar-free soda and candy is okay for your teeth

Sugar-free options will be better for a child's teeth than the full-sugar variety. However, sugar is not the only danger that a child will face. Far from it. Acid is actually far more dangerous than sugar itself and a lot of sugar-free products are high in acidity. For example, sugar-free soda is terrible for your child's teeth because the acid content is closer to that of battery acid than it is to water. As such, it can begin to erode the enamel on a child's teeth with just one glass. Likewise, a sugar-free sour candy will also be corrosive.

#4. Only football players need to wear a mouth guard

Any contact sport can cause damage to teeth, including soccer and basketball among others. Football is typically the only sport that requires a mouth guard but it should not be. As a dentist for kids, we encourage parents to purchase mouth guards for their child any time that they play a sport in order to prevent a dental injury.

#5. You need to be a teenager to wear braces

Children can begin early orthodontic treatment as young as 7 years of age. While this does not typically involve immediate braces, other solutions can be used to create or preserve space in the mouth. Once a child has most of their permanent teeth, he or she can qualify for braces. The exact age will depend on the child's physical maturity and we can make a recommendation when examining them.

Visit a dentist for kids today

Give your child the best opportunity for prolonged and good oral health by bringing them to our clinic twice a year. We can provide them with superior dental care and help your child to remain healthy today and into the future.

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