Dental care should not be just the concern of one member of the family, like the mother or the father—it should involve the entire household. Children usually follow examples set by their parents, and oral health is one area where elders should take the lead. They should make visits to dentists in Fayetteville, NC, like Alliance Family Dental, under Dr. Patrice A. Barber and associates, a regular habit for their children to emulate.
Most people usually take their teeth for granted until something goes wrong. Without proper care, teeth become vulnerable to cavities and decay, while gums could be prone to bleeding and infection. Children must be taught proper dental care at an early age to prevent future problems. The goal is to make preventive practices a habit, which is not only the best way to maintain good oral health, but wellness as a whole.
The best way to start practicing good oral health is by learning the basics about teeth. After all, knowledge is power. Knowing how our teeth develop is the first step to giving them the care and attention they need.
People actually have two sets of teeth: primary teeth (otherwise known as baby teeth) and permanent teeth, both of which benefit from regular visits to Dr. Barber and Alliance Family Dental.
Our teeth develop in stages and at different times, with the top molar on the left side growing about the same time as the top molar on the right.
Our teeth also develop long before they become visible. The most visible part of our teeth, the dental crown, forms first while the roots continue to develop even after the teeth have appeared, extending all the way below the gum line and anchoring teeth to the jaw bone. Anything that could have an adverse impact on their development, such as infections and trauma, should be avoided at all costs.
In most cases, our 20 primary teeth are in place by the time we reach the age of 3 and remain until around 6 years of age when they start to fall to give way to permanent teeth. Adult teeth, all 32 of them, start to grow between the ages of 6 and 12. These are larger and naturally take longer to grow than baby teeth.
We should never take our teeth for granted. Just like every part of our body, each tooth is important. Practices such as brushing and flossing twice daily, avoiding smoking, maintaining a healthy diet, and making routine visits to Alliance Family Dental in Fayetteville, NC are all essential to achieving the best dental health for the entire family.