Mississauga dentist works with kids and parents for family-wide health

There is no better time to prevent dental disease and other tooth-related conditions than when your child is young. When pediatric patients develop good habits, all they will ever know is consistent and thorough brushing and flossing. A kid-friendly environment makes it easy for little ones to look forward to dental visits.

As much as your kid’s dentist in Mississauga at Dentistry on 10 promotes good habits with its Cavity Free Club, the team can’t be around your child 24/7. That’s why recall appointments are as much about educating parents as they are about children, especially when the child is very young and can’t brush on his or her own.

Parents may not realise that they play an important role in baby’s oral health even before baby is born. General practitioners and obstetricians are acknowledging the role oral health plays in the health of the rest of your body. Pregnant woman with advanced gum disease are more likely to have low birth-weight or pre-term babies. Expectant mothers are also at risk of developing pregnancy gingivitis. According to the Canadian Dental Association, this earlier-stage gum disease usually appears during the first trimester due to increased levels of progesterone and estrogen.

Preschoolers who develop decay have what’s called “Early childhood caries” (ECCs) In urban parts of Canada like the GTA it is estimated six to eight percent of kids have ECCs. The organism with the strongest link to ECC can also be passed from mother or caregiver to infant through saliva used to, for example, moisten a pacifier. As a parent, by improving your oral health you are indirectly improving your child’s oral health.

Dr. Kotecha and her team consult with both the parent and child on healthy strategies, including “tooth-friendly” foods. Call (905) 455-9262 to schedule an initial consultation or recall appointment.

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