{"id":162,"date":"2021-09-08T20:32:00","date_gmt":"2021-09-08T20:32:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.casperchildrensdental.com\/blog\/?p=162"},"modified":"2021-10-26T20:33:55","modified_gmt":"2021-10-26T20:33:55","slug":"debunking-common-myths-about-childrens-dentistry","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.casperchildrensdental.com\/blog\/2021\/09\/08\/debunking-common-myths-about-childrens-dentistry\/","title":{"rendered":"Debunking Common Myths About Children\u2019s Dentistry"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
\"children<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

As your child grows, their smile continually evolves and changes with them. With so much happening, it\u2019s no surprise that there are several misconceptions surrounding the care of baby teeth! Unfortunately, these myths can get in the way of your little\u2019s one developing grin. If you\u2019re interested in learning more, read on as a pediatric dentist in Casper debunks five common myths about children\u2019s dentistry.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

Baby Teeth Don\u2019t Matter<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Since baby teeth<\/a> are \u201cgoing to fall out anyway\u201d, some people assume they don\u2019t require proper care. However, that couldn\u2019t be further from the truth. It may surprise you to learn that primary (baby) teeth play a crucial role in your child\u2019s development. They help your little one eat and speak properly while preserving facial structure and acting as placeholders for permanent teeth. If you fail to take proper care of baby teeth, it can lead to several long-term dental consequences down the line. Before your child\u2019s tooth first tooth erupts, clean their gums with a soft, damp rag to eliminate bacteria.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Children Shouldn\u2019t Chew Gum<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

False! In fact, chewing sugar-free gum can benefit your child\u2019s pearly whites. The act of chewing increases saliva production, which helps keep cavities away. What\u2019s more, since it has no added sugar, bacteria won\u2019t produce enough acids to cause damage to their teeth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Cavities Are Only Caused by Sugar<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Contrary to popular belief, frequent consumption of sugar isn\u2019t the only cause of cavities. Snacking on starchy foods like chips and crackers can also increase the amount of plaque in your child\u2019s mouth, increasing their risk of tooth decay, cavities, and other dental problems. Luckily, brushing, flossing, and rinsing after meals can help keep bacteria and plaque at bay. Don\u2019t forget to take your little one to see their dentist every six months as well!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Kids Don\u2019t Need Fluoride Toothpaste<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Tooth decay is possible as soon as the first tooth erupts, which is why the American Dental Association (ADA) recommends fluoride to help strengthen kids\u2019 teeth and prevent cavities. That\u2019s why it\u2019s crucial to brush with fluoride toothpaste! Since small children are more likely to swallow it, you should only use about the size of a grain of rice for kids two and younger. If your child is age three or older (and can spit when brushing), you can use a pea-sized amount.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Pacifiers Are Bad for Teeth<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Did you know that babies suck their thumb or fingers in the womb? It\u2019s a natural self-soothing behavior that starts even before they enter this world! With that said, it\u2019s completely okay for newborns and infants to use a pacifier. It can also help decrease the risk of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS). Regardless, most children will stop sucking on their thumb or using a pacifier between the ages of two and four. It\u2019s only a concern if the habit continues past the age of four, as it can cause changes in the roof of the mouth and alignment issues.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Now that we\u2019ve debunked common myths about children\u2019s dentistry, you can guide your little one down the right path towards a happy, healthy smile!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

About the Practice<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

At Casper Children\u2019s Dental Clinic, we strive to create a fun and entertaining environment for your children while successfully completing necessary dental care. Our highly skilled and knowledgeable team has plenty of experience working with kids of all ages. We always go the extra mile to help our young patients achieve and maintain their absolute best smiles! For more facts about children\u2019s dentistry, visit our website<\/a> or call (307) 266-1997<\/strong>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

As your child grows, their smile continually evolves and changes with them. With so much happening, it\u2019s no surprise that there are several misconceptions surrounding the care of baby teeth! Unfortunately, these myths can get in the way of your little\u2019s one developing grin. If you\u2019re interested in learning more, read on as a pediatric […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-162","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.casperchildrensdental.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/162","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.casperchildrensdental.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.casperchildrensdental.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.casperchildrensdental.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.casperchildrensdental.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=162"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/www.casperchildrensdental.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/162\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":165,"href":"https:\/\/www.casperchildrensdental.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/162\/revisions\/165"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.casperchildrensdental.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=162"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.casperchildrensdental.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=162"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.casperchildrensdental.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=162"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}