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A disturbing new report is out -- one in four children in the U.S. haven't been to see a dentist in the last year. Is your child one of them? Because, according to this report, toddlers skip regular dental checkups more than kids of all other ages.
And, while lack of health insurance is certainly one reason, it's not the only reason, according to researchers at the South Carolina Rural Health Research Center at the Arnold School of Public Health. More than two-thirds of parents surveyed consider their children's teeth in very good or excellent condition, which, according to the report, is not reality.
Sure, baby teeth almost always look white and healthy from a mom's perspective. But looking casually into a child's mouth, you just don't see the bad stuff, says Jan Probst, director of the South Carolina Rural Health Research Center. She says that as soon as your children have teeth, they should start going to the dentist regularly.
"Children don't exactly bare their whole teeth to you, and unless you are looking carefully while you help them brush their teeth, you don't see small spots that are the signs of big trouble," she says.
Why should we worry about baby teeth if they are going to fall out anyway? Here's why:
Baby teeth are placeholders for adult teeth. If they become decayed and have to be removed, permanent teeth can grow in at strange angles and positions, requiring braces later on. And, once bacteria are already in the mouth, damage to permanent teeth is more likely.
The mouth is also usually the first place where signs of other diseases show up, which is why dentists screen the mouth and throat during normal checkups, says Dr. Amy Brock Martin, lead author of the report. "We have a sad case in South Carolina where a child presented himself to his school nurse, who looked in his mouth and found something that didn't look quite right," Brock says. "They got the child to a dentist, who diagnosed him with cancer."
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Hi! My name is Danielle, and I am a dental hygienist..so I do have a slightly different opinion on the matter. This is a mix of a professional and a "mothering" opinion.
It is very, very important to take a child of any age to the dentist. One of the reasons was stated that you can't see all the problems just by looking into a dark, squirmy toddler's mouth. (Heck, it's a challenge to see them all in a dental chair with a light, mirror and several years experience!! LOL!!) The other big reason, is that kids have to get use to going to the dentist. It is a different experience..one that adults feel uncomfortable with at times, so having pleasant cleaning experiences is a major goal of early dental appts.
That being said...the mother knows their child. If your child is NOT going to make it through an appt (you know who you are!! LOL!!) then there is no point in torture the child if nothing is going to be accomplished. In the offices I worked in, we would not see the child if they were upset. But give it a shot...a good office will work with the family.
So, if your child will learn to sit TAKE THEM TO THE DENTIST!!! It is important!
My daughter is 2 and I haven't taken her to the dentist yet. I heard from my ped. that they don't need their first dental exam until 3 years old. Which seems like a while to wait...for me any how. Has anyone heard different or tried taking their toddler earlier then 3 years? Once we start going I will def. take her every six months.
That waa my question too....when DO you start taking them to the dentist?
We do not have a dentist that will see toddlers before the age of 3 years in the area we live.
I asked our doctor about this and was told he didn't need to go until his 3rd birthday.
Great questions, everyone. I asked the experts I spoke with for this post, and they told me that kids should start going to the dentist as soon as "dentition" begins -- in other words, when they start getting teeth. I also have heard different opinions, though, from other doctors.
Everything I have heard was as soon as dentition begins, but it is difficult to find a dentist that will see them earlier than 3yrs. Most often a special pediatric dentist is needed.
My dentist and pediatrician said to start visits at age 2. But, the dentist said at the first visit he might not even look in his mouth - it's just to get him used to the dentist. He can sit in the chair, play with the brush, etc. so that he'll feel more comfortable going there in the future.
When to take your child to the dentist can also vary from state to state. My niece and nephew live in New York State and there's a big campaign going on to get kids to the dentist at their first birthday.
Here in MA my dentist said age 3. We just got the twins on our dental insurance and will try to get in to see a pediatric dentist (they'll be 2 this month). I also have been taking them with me when I go (every 3 mos) since they were just a few months old. Normally they do just fine sitting and waiting but my last appt., not so much.
My ped told us we should schedule an appointment as soon as my son got his first tooth, but my insurance won't cover dental until 3 years old, and none of the dentists I can find will take kids before age 3. Leland is 2 and a half now, and has never been to the dentist... I will be taking him in March as soon as he turns 3 years old.