Babies and Children, Dentistry, Health & Beauty

The Importance of Early Orthodontic Treatments for Babies

People need to have consistent and regular orthodontic treatments. And even more so for younger children. This is because the best time ever to prevent and put children on course for healthier teeth and avoid long term problems in their teeth.

In the UAE, there are many dentistry experts and clinics that are tailor-made for children. Ask any doctor or dentist you know, and they will tell you. Early orthodontic treatment is the best way and sometimes the only way to prevent bad oral health when your child grows up.

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Visiting the dentist once a year is healthy for all children and adults. However, there are signs and symptoms that your child may demonstrate and enough reason for you to get it checked up by the dentist. If you notice any of the below symptoms from your child, speak with your child’s doctor or dentist:

Premature loss of baby teeth (before the age of 5)
When Your child’s teeth do not meet properly when biting
Snoring at night or excessive mouth breathing
Crowded teeth (becomes apparent in children older than seven years of age)
Protruding front teeth
Pain when biting or chewing
Speech impediment
If your child moves their jaw to different sides when opening their mouth
If your child sucks their thumb after the age of 5

Why Your Child Needs to See the Dentist Regularly

It is best to get orthodontic treatment sooner as opposed to later because younger children will have softer gums. This allows the dentist easier access to procedures as well as making corrections and changes that can last a lifetime.

When children reach their teen years, their gums will harden. This creates more difficulty for the doctor to practice correctional procedures, and the results may not be as effective.

What You Can Do

It’s important to understand that the dentist doesn’t mean they will give your child a lifetime of healthy teeth. Going to the dentist is only to make sure they are on the right course for healthy teeth and making corrections where necessary.

In between all the orthodontic treatments, you need to make sure you and your child are taking care of their oral health. Here’s a couple of useful tips for maintaining healthy teeth:

Regularly check for tooth decay. Tooth decay is the deterioration of your teeth. It begins from the outer layers and creeps into the whole tooth and affects the gums. The best way to prevent it is by identifying it in its early stages. Try to check your child’s teeth every few days for signs of tooth decay. They can be seen as discolouration or white spots.
Set them up a routine. Make sure you have set up a routine that they can remember and stick to. You can incorporate the time of day for brushing, flossing as well as using mouth wash. Setting up a routine will help them create a habit and ensure they never miss out on brushing and maintaining their teeth, even when you’re not around.
Educate and encourage your child. Children will not do things they don’t understand or see the purpose of doing. Teach them the importance of brushing their teeth, why it needs to be done, and what can happen if they don’t. By teaching them more about the purpose of maintaining good oral hygiene, it may give them more motivation and less resistance when brushing their teeth or other oral health-related practices.
Set a good example. Even if you’re doing all the above points with great effort, it is far less effective and almost pointless if you aren’t doing the same with your oral health. One of the best things you can do for children is to brush your teeth alongside them. If they have to cut down on sugary foods for their teeth, then you can do. The extras encouragement and the example you’re setting for your child will go a long way once they become adults.

Head over to the Okadoc app to immediately book an appointment with your health practitioner.