Could Tooth Decay Affect your Child’s Growth
Summerlin, Las Vegas, and Henderson Nevada
It’s no secret that tooth decay has a bad rap, but it may be worse than we thought. A recent study reveals that tooth decay may actually inhibit the growth of a child. Tooth decay among children has become an epidemic. Your Las Vegas family dentists at Inspire Dental of Summerlin want to share some insightful information about how tooth decay could affect your child, and what you can do about it to protect their teeth, and their health.
Tooth Decay and Child’s Growth
First, let’s take a look at this study published online. This study was conducted at the University College London and King Fahad Armed Forces Hospital in Saudi Arabia. The research participants were Saudi Arabian children ages 6 to 8. Their dental decay in correlation to their height and weight were considered.
A DMFT scale was used to determine the severity of their tooth decay, as well as the seriousness of any missing teeth or teeth that were already filled from previous decay. Social factors, values, and demographics were taken into consideration as well.
The analysis and statistics derived from the study concluded that there is, in fact, a strong correlation between tooth decay and a child’s growth. The children with severe tooth decay were at a greater risk of being underweight and shorter than the children that had fewer, less severe tooth decay. Even with the consideration of demographics and various social factors, stunted growth still occurred in children with extensive tooth decay.
Prevention is Key
At Inspire Dental of Summerlin, we support the importance of oral care among children, especially as they are growing and developing. Proper oral hygiene habits should begin at birth by gently wiping your baby’s gums with a moist cloth. Begin gentle brushing techniques as soon as your child’s first tooth appears. Also, routine dental checkups should occur about this time or no later than one year of age. These twice year visits allow your Summerlin family dentist the chance to identify any early signs of tooth decay, which can be taken care of sooner rather than later.
For children that already have their permanent teeth emerging, your Las Vegas dental office offers preventive measures to help ward off the risk of tooth decay. Fluoride and sealants are excellent options for our pediatric patients. Fluoride helps fortify dental enamel, which makes it less susceptible to tooth decay. Furthermore, sealants add an additional barrier of protection to the top surface of the back teeth, where cavities are most prone to developing.
Not only will prevention help protect your child’s oral health, and development, but also help decrease the amount of hours that they miss from school due to dental emergencies.
Family Dentist in Summerlin
To learn more about our pediatric dental program at Inspire Dental of Summerlin, we invite you to schedule a consultation with us by calling our office at (702) 331-4700.
Inspire Dental of Summerlin is proud to provide top-quality oral health care to patients of all ages in the areas of Henderson, Summerlin, and Las Vegas.