Dental Care for the Entire Family
Over the last few decades, the importance of proper oral hygiene has become more and more obvious. The American Dental Association has been on a mission to educate children and parents about the importance of starting dental care at an early age. But why exactly is it so important to take care of teeth your child is going to eventually lose?

Importance of Pediatric Dentistry
Although children lose their baby teeth between the ages of 6-12, research has shown that a healthy foundation for oral health has to start during their first years of life. Various things such as inadequate at home dental care, poor eating habits and even a poor diet has been shown to cause tooth decay in children. Decay and disease in baby teeth can actually have an impact on their overall oral health down the road. Prevention is the best treatment in pediatric dentistry.

Routine dental examinations and cleanings are important for children of all ages, it allows their dentist to check for teeth alignment, signs of decay and any other health conditions that manifest oral symptoms. If treatments are necessary to ensure optimal oral health, it is best to take care of it sooner rather than later.

Like the rest of our body, when we age we become more susceptible to complications. Continuing routine dental care, examinations and cleaning through adulthood can allow dentists to check for symptoms of other health conditions, oral cancers and any decay that may need to be addressed.

Senior Dental Care Benefits
As we age, our body becomes more prone to health complications, and oral health is no different. The risk and severity for gum disease increases with age and can be further complicated by many diseases senior citizens often have. Studies have shown a link between oral health and diseases such as heart disease and diabetes. Poor oral hygiene can actually lead to increased severity of diseases such as diabetes. Routine dental examinations and cleanings can allow dentists to assess the severity of oral health issues along with looking for symptoms of general health disorders as well.

No matter what age you are, dental health should be extremely important. Taking care of your oral health can help prevent oral diseases and potentially decrease the severity of other diseases such as diabetes. If you are a loved one is in need of dental care, contact the experts at Northwest Austin Family Dentistry.