Every parent wants the best for their kids, and ensuring that they have good oral health is a big part of that. However, there are quite a few myths that circulate often about children’s dentistry that can make it a little difficult to do that.
Your pediatric dentist can be a big help, but when it comes to caring for your children on a day-to-day basis, there’s only so much they can do. With that in mind, here are some of the most common myths about children’s dentistry, and why you shouldn’t give them much credit.
Taking Care of Baby Teeth Doesn’t Matter
“If my baby’s teeth are going to fall out eventually, it’s not that important to take care of them, right?” Unfortunately, that is how many people approach this issue. In truth, baby teeth are crucial to the development of your child’s oral health. They exist as placeholders for their permanent teeth, and allow your child’s jaw to grow properly into the shape it will finally take.
Baby teeth are also critical to speech development, and without them, your child could develop impediments in saying “th,” “sh,” and “l” sounds properly. Finally, cavities in baby teeth are still uncomfortable, so taking care of your child’s oral health will save them a lot of grief.
Fruit Juice is Fine for Kids’ Teeth
Most parents would never give their babies soda, but juice can contain just as much sugar and be just as acidic. Even 100% fruit juice from a bottle can potentially be a problem, especially if your child sleeps with it in their mouth.
The longer that sugar sits on your child’s teeth, the more that it can feed bacteria that may be living in the child’s mouth, leading to so-called “baby bottle tooth decay.”
Pacifiers and Thumb-Sucking are Bad for Kid’s Teeth
This myth has a little bit of truth to it, but some parents worry about pacifier use much more than they need to. For most of infancy, pacifier use is not only normal, it’s arguably healthy. It’s not uncommon to see babies start sucking their thumbs in the womb!
The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends you start weaning children off of these behaviors at around 4 years old. Past that point, it is possible that their jaw could shape around their thumb, causing what’s known as an open bite.
When it comes to protecting your child’s teeth, knowing truth from fiction can be more than a little difficult. Hopefully, this guide made that task easier for you.
About Our Practice
At Smile More Dentistry, we work hard to ensure that every patient we see receives the best oral healthcare possible. We have cutting-edge dental technology, a welcoming reception area, and a friendly dental team so that patients can enjoy all the best that dentistry has to offer in a calm, comfortable environment.
If you have any questions about children’s dentistry, we can be reached at our website or by phone at (845) 675-1512.