When Should You Take Your Child to a Pediatric Dentist?

Your child’s oral health is an important thing to keep an eye on as they are growing, and you should be taking them to the dentist regularly as they get older. However, it can be difficult to determine when a dentist’s attention is needed and when a problem is minor enough to heal on its own. Implant & Comprehensive Dentistry is the pediatric dentist Champions Gate families rely on – here’s when they recommend taking your child to the dentist.
Every Six Months for Checkups
After the age of one, you should be taking your child to the dentist every six months. To many people, this seems like a lot, but since your child’s mouth and teeth are growing and changing quickly, they need a lot of care to ensure that they are healthy in adulthood. Not only do these frequent visits prevent future oral health issues, but they will also get your child comfortable with going to the dentist from a young age. The more often you go, the less scary the dentist will seem.
Consistent Tooth Pain
Some discomfort when kids are losing their teeth and growing new ones is normal. However, if your child is experiencing consistent pain in one area of the mouth, it’s important to see a dentist to identify the problem. The sooner you correct dental problems, the sooner you can prevent them from getting worse and affecting your child in adulthood. Many dentists will have your child come in to get sealants at some point, which will help protect your teeth from cavities and other damage.
Sores or Swelling
Again, it’s normal for everyone to experience mild sores or irritation every once in a while. However, if your child has a sore in or on their mouth that lasts for a long time, or any part of their mouth or gums are swollen, it’s worth seeing a pediatric dentist. Swelling is one of your body’s ways of letting you know that there is something wrong and that you need to take care of it.
In general, if you have any concern about your child’s oral health that is ongoing, it is worth checking in with their pediatric dentist about it to make sure that it doesn’t progress. Regular dental checkups will make a big difference in the long run, potentially saving the time, money, and stress that comes along with emergency dental work. Contact the expert team at Implants & Comprehensive Dentistry today to schedule an appointment for your child in Champions Gate or Winter Haven, FL. We also serve residents in Celebration.