Dental health is not only about pretty pearly whites. While the focus in our practice is on tooth, jaw, and mouth, at Convivial Dental we also know that dental care is important for total body wellness.
Your child's facial - jaw growth, speech development, and chewing function along with their self -confidence all start with a healthy set of teeth. Like a fountain, the health of your teeth can trickle down to affect the rest of your body functions like digestion, breathing, and even their little hearts.
Regular dental checkups are essential to a healthy lifestyle because at Convivial Dental we know how to spot problems early on and treat them quickly to prevent more serious complications later in life. Read on for some ways that dental care can affect the rest of your child’s body and maintain their overall health.
First Impressions and Self-confidence
Which came first: the beautiful smile or the confidence that created that great grin? Unlike the chicken and the egg, we think we know the answer to this one for sure. A fabulous looking smile and a harmonious facial/jaw appearance can make your child more confident. On the flip side, crooked and unhealthy teeth could make your child reluctant to smile, affecting self-confidence and perception from their peers who might wrongly think them unfriendly. There are studies that show a good smile can make you seem more approachable and friendly to others - making it easier to make friends in social settings. We want our kids to be happy and smiling is a good measure of happiness. Oh, and proper dental care definitely reduces bad breath, which as we all know is a huge turnoff. Yuck!
Reduce the Risk of Infections
Proper mouth care and reducing plaque on your teeth can mean fewer bodily infections. Our mouths can harbor some really seedy stuff like bacteria, yeasts and viruses that hang around our teeth. Without proper dental care like regular brushing and flossing, your gums can become inflamed and bleed, offering those little nasties an open route to enter your body to cause a host of other problems like heart disease, cardiovascular disease, and even pneumonia or other respiratory illnesses. Taking care of your gums may feel like a grown-up thing, but, trust us, your kiddo’s gums need the same care. Plus you’re instilling healthy habits that will last a lifetime.
Chewing and Digestion
“Chew your food!” Sound familiar? Don’t worry, you’re not being an overprotective parent. Eating a healthy diet is a great first step to ensuring your child’s health and what goes into their little mouths needs to be properly broken down before it’s swallowed in order to take advantage of all that good stuff. Good chewing habits contribute to good digestion and help the body absorb the nutrients in your food better. A good bite (occlusion in dental-speak) means your child can chew better and get a better experience out of eating. Proper chewing also prevents bloating and other gastrointestinal problems like (no giggling) excessive flatulence.
Memory Function and Alzheimer’s
Believe it or not, gingivitis has been linked to a person’s level of cognitive function. Yes, studies have shown that gingivitis AKA gum disease - inflammation, bleeding, and tenderness of your gums - can affect how adults perform on memory and cognitive skill tests. A recent study demonstrated a link between the bacteria that causes gum disease with Alzheimer’s disease and dementia. Just another reason why starting healthy habits, like flossing, early will help your child throughout life.
Tongue Tie Solutions
Ankyloglossia or tongue-tie is when your tongue movement is restricted by a little band of tissue at the tip of the tongue attached to the base of the mouth. This can affect breastfeeding for infants, speech as well as jaw growth and facial appearance later in life. If left untreated, older children and adults can find it difficult to clear bits of food from teeth, contributing to tooth decay and gum disease. Dr. Zavras is experienced with resolving tongue tie issues through a laser procedure (frenectomy) done in-office. It’s a simple procedure and can make a huge difference with your child’s health and self-confidence. And if you’re a stressed new mama reading this, please come see us - we can help!
At Convivial Dental, we strongly believe in total body health and it starts with healthy habits contributing to a healthy and happy smile. We are a caring and friendly office with a great reputation (just read our reviews!) in the Chestnut Hill area. If you care about your child’s overall health like we do, we hope you’ll bring your little on in for a visit. Whether they’ve just sprouted their first tooth or they have some wiggly ones, we look forward to meeting your child.
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