Maintaining your child's dental health is one of the most important things that you can ever do. Practicing good oral hygiene at home by showing your little one how to brush and floss is great but when you want to address those hard-to-reach places, you need the kind of tools that only a skilled dentist can provide. While you are making those yearly physical appointments and preparing your child to see the doctor, check out why you should add a visit with a pediatric dentist to the calendar.

1. Familiarity Breeds Comfort

You may know fully-grown adults who are afraid to go to the dentist. It's a relatively common fear because it's believed that as many as 20% of Americans have a fear of seeing the dentist. There could be many reasons for this phenomenon but if you give it some thought, you might conclude that these individuals are likely afraid of the unknown. Maybe they never went to the dentist during their formative years so the only information they have about the dental clinic may have come from horror movies or television shows which showed the dentist in a negative light. 

One of the best ways to combat fear is through exposure. When you regularly take your child to the dentist, they can become more and more comfortable with every visit. Instead of being afraid of the dentist, they'll grow to be completely at ease. The dentist can then be seen as a friendly, integral part of their overall health maintenance plan. 

2. Catch Oral Problems Earlier

As your child is growing, their bone structure is bound to change. There could be early warning signs of potential jaw-related deformities that may cause problems as the child ages. If you're able to catch these things while your child is still young, you can correct it sooner and with less pain.  

Overbites and misaligned jawbones can make it tough to talk or even eat. Not to mention the kinds of psychological issues that can develop if the deformity threatens your child's appearance. Going to the pediatric dentist allows the oral professional to keep a close eye on your child's development so if something needs to be repaired, it can be handled right away.

Set your child up for a lifetime of healthy teeth and gums. Take them to the dentist so they'll always greet the world with a smile.