Dentist in Greensboro Explains Importance and Benefits of First Oral Health Exams for Infants

Regular dental care from an early age sets the foundation for a lifetime of healthy smiles for your child. Getting your children in for early checkups will not only help prevent tooth decay and cavities that can lead to more serious issues, but also encourage the development of healthy oral hygiene habits as well. Dr. Sona Isharani and her team at Triad Pediatric Dentistry in Greensboro, NC encourage you to bring your children in for infant oral health exams starting at the age of 1 or when their first tooth comes in, whichever is sooner.

The First Exam

A child’s first dental visit is dedicated to performing an initial checkup of the child’s oral development, as well as educating parents (or caregivers) on the best practices on caring for their infant’s teeth to make sure they remain free from cavities and decay. An example of this education could be in the form of a child who is brought in with a cavity. It might be the case that cavity is due to the infant falling asleep each night while sucking on a bottle of juice or milk. Dr. Isharani could use this situation to provide important information to the parents so that they have an action plan to address it in the future, including:

• Why this habit has brought on tooth decay
• Provide encouragement for the parents to start having the child drink from a cup instead of a bottle as they reach that first birthday
• Teaching proper brushing habits for young teeth

The Trouble with Tooth Decay

It’s been reported by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) that over 40% of children entering kindergarten will have tooth decay. This makes tooth decay the most prevalent chronic disease affecting children in the United States. Ensuring that you take your child to dental exams starting at an early age can help make sure they are not part of this statistic.

If you are interested in learning more about the care Dr. Isharani can provide your children or want to schedule your child’s first dental exam, please call Triad Pediatric Dentistry in Greensboro, NC at (336) 804-8668.