{"id":14186,"date":"2022-08-25T16:59:00","date_gmt":"2022-08-25T16:59:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.westgatedentalcare.net\/blog\/?p=14186"},"modified":"2026-01-08T19:39:25","modified_gmt":"2026-01-08T19:39:25","slug":"facts-about-childrens-dentistry-that-every-parent-should-know","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.westgatedentalcare.net\/blog\/2022\/08\/25\/facts-about-childrens-dentistry-that-every-parent-should-know\/","title":{"rendered":"5 Important Facts About Children\u2019s Dentistry That Every Parent Should Know"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"alignleft size-large is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.westgatedentalcare.net\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/Picture4-1024x682.jpg\" alt=\"Mom and daughter smiling at each other outside\" class=\"wp-image-14187\" width=\"320\" height=\"213\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.westgatedentalcare.net\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/Picture4-1024x682.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.westgatedentalcare.net\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/Picture4-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.westgatedentalcare.net\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/Picture4-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.westgatedentalcare.net\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/Picture4.jpg 1430w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 320px) 100vw, 320px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p>Are you unsure of how to care for your child\u2019s growing smile? Don\u2019t be discouraged \u2013 it\u2019s not like there is a one-size-fits-all guidebook to help! While your child\u2019s dentist is a great resource, sometimes learning a few important facts about <a href=\"https:\/\/www.westgatedentalcare.net\/childrens-dentistry.html\">children\u2019s dentistry<\/a> is all that\u2019s needed to help guide you. With this in mind, keep reading to learn five things you may not know about the topic!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<!--more-->\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Fact #1: More than 42% of Children Between 2 and 11 Will Have a Cavity<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>It\u2019s true! Five times more common than childhood asthma and 20 times more common than diabetes, tooth decay is the most common childhood disease. If that wasn\u2019t shocking enough, a whopping 90% of Americans have had at least one cavity by their 21<sup>st<\/sup> birthday. That\u2019s why it\u2019s so important that you help your little one keep their teeth decay-free! Some good habits to reinforce are brushing twice a day and limiting foods and drinks with added sugar.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Fact #2: Candy Isn\u2019t the Only Cause of Tooth Decay<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Sugar is one of the number one culprits of tooth decay. Of course, it isn\u2019t the only one. Starchy foods (like cookies and crackers), a poor oral hygiene routine, and unhealthy dental habits can also increase your child\u2019s chances of developing a cavity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Fact #3: It\u2019s Possible for Children to \u201cCatch\u201d Cavities<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Did you know that 71% of tooth decay cases are passed from a mother to her infant? Primarily, this is a result of parents sharing utensils, blowing on food, and \u201ccleaning\u201d pacifiers with their mouths. However, it\u2019s worth mentioning that the bacteria can also transfer through kissing. So, it\u2019s of the utmost importance that you prioritize your oral health too!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Fact #4: Dental Problems Can Negatively Impact Academic Performance<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>In addition to impacting your child\u2019s bite and overall health, dental problems can negatively impact their academic success. In fact, when roughly 40,000 students were studied, those with dental problems were more likely to miss valuable time in the classroom and less likely to complete all required homework. For this reason, it\u2019s important to schedule your child\u2019s biannual checkup and cleaning before the school year starts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Fact #5: Your Child Should Begin Visiting Their Dentist at Age One<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>In short, your child\u2019s biannual checkups and cleanings should begin at age one (or sooner if they lose their first tooth before then). These routine visits play a key role in catching cavities in the early stages, monitoring the development of their jaw, removing stubborn plaque, and preventing other dental problems from arising in the future.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Hopefully you\u2019ve learned something new about children\u2019s dentistry! If you have a question about how to care for your child\u2019s growing smile, then don\u2019t hesitate to reach out to your child\u2019s dental team.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">About the Practice<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Our team at <a href=\"https:\/\/www.westgatedentalcare.net\/\">Westgate Dental Care<\/a> is happy to welcome your whole family to our dental office! In addition to having friendly, highly trained, and compassionate dentists, we have an advanced cavity detection system, which allows us to maintain and restore your child\u2019s smile with the utmost efficiency. If you want to learn more about children\u2019s dentistry, you have a question about how to keep your little one\u2019s smile decay-free from home, or you\u2019d simply like to schedule an appointment, don\u2019t hesitate to visit our <a href=\"https:\/\/www.westgatedentalcare.net\/contact.html\">website<\/a> or call <strong>(847) 577-7171<\/strong>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Are you unsure of how to care for your child\u2019s growing smile? Don\u2019t be discouraged \u2013 it\u2019s not like there is a one-size-fits-all guidebook to help! While your child\u2019s dentist is a great resource, sometimes learning a few important facts about children\u2019s dentistry is all that\u2019s needed to help guide you. With this in mind, [&hellip;]<\/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-14186","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.4 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>5 Important Facts About Children\u2019s Dentistry | Westgate Dental Care<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"As a parent, you naturally want your child\u2019s smile to stay happy and healthy. 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