Gum disease, also known as periodontal disease, affects the tissues around the tooth. The plaque bacteria can infect your gums and teeth, and eventually, the gum tissue and bone that support the teeth will be impacted. The three stages of gum disease — from least to most severe — are gingivitis, periodontitis and advanced periodontitis. Regular cleaning and checkup with a pediatric dentist near me can help reverse the damages that can occurred.
Kid’s Dental professionals now know that periodontal disease has a direct impact on general health. This is a chronic infection that can result in several health problems:
Respiratory: The bacteria in the mouth can move to the lungs and can cause infections such as pneumonia.
Heart: Research indicates that having periodontal disease may increase your risk of cardiovascular disease. People with gum disease are almost twice as likely to suffer from coronary artery disease.
Cancer: People with periodontal disease may be more likely to develop kidney, pancreatic, and blood cancer.
Diabetes: Research has suggested that severe periodontal disease can increase blood sugar, contributing to increased periods of time when the body functions with a high blood sugar. People with diabetes increases risk for diabetic complications.
Flossing is very critical to prevent tooth decay and the buildup of plaque. Most people believe that brushing alone will remove the necessary plaque that has accumulated, but this is not the case. By only brushing only about 40% of plaque is removed. Brushing cleans the surface of the teeth but flossing cleans the side of the teeth where nasty bacteria loves to hide.
It is important to teach good oral hygiene at a younger age because children have more energy and more willing to learn. These techniques can also help them in the future. This will not only benefit the child but the parents as well, saving money later on with fillings and crowns. Although teaching such advanced techniques can be difficult there are numerous ways to help make this learning process easier.
Teaching your child to floss depends mostly on the type of floss you will use and how your child learns. Most children are visual learners and learn just by observing, other children learn better with music or by creating a song about the process. Using traditional floss may be more difficult to teach younger children, therefore floss picks designed for children are recommended by Pediatric Dentist in West Palm Beach.
Children usually mimic what they see and hear around them. Making flossing an important activity for the entire household will increase the child’s likelihood of wanting to floss on their own. Allowing your child to watch you while you brush your teeth and floss will help them get a better idea of what having good oral hygiene is. A children dentist can guide you with the most important information you should know about flossing in kids.
To really get your child excited about flossing try to switch up the routine a little. One day they can watch you floss, the next day you show them how to properly floss their teeth, and then the following day they can floss your teeth. This will help them learn faster and it will benefit them for their entire life.
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1037 S. State Road 7 Suite 215 Wellington, FL 33414
