Healthy primary teeth are critical to ensuring your child is on track to hit their overall development benchmarks! Although they will eventually fall out and become replaced with permanent teeth, primary teeth still serve an important role. According to the Pediatric Dentistry Journal, “rampant cavities are associated with insufficient development in children who have no other medical problems.” Don’t be fooled, even though primary teeth fall out, proper oral hygiene is still crucial from the very start!
Oral health is a major factor in the overall health and development of children, from speech development to social development and self-esteem. According to the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry, children with rampant cavities were shown to weigh “less that 80% of their ideal weight, and to be in the lowest 10th percentile for weight”. Unfortunately, many children experiencing rampant cavities do not see a dentist until they experience pain, going years without treatment. If left untreated, cavities can lead to insufficient overall development through tooth loss, gum disease, loss of sleep and poor self esteem. Rampant cavities can also negatively affect proper facial structure development, and speech development as well.
One of the keys to managing oral healthcare in children is getting them established with a Dentist by their first birthday, or 6 months after their first tooth erupts. Here at Owasso Pediatric Dental, we’re not just here to help your child get on the path to a healthy smile. We’re also here to help them develop into the healthiest version of themselves! Need to schedule an appointment? We’re just a phone call away, we’d love to help!