As a parent you are probably aware that brushing your children's teeth and taking them to the dentist is important. Proper early hygiene and visiting a dentist regularly when young are two big contributing factors for future dental health. However, you may not know about these 3 surprising reasons that you might want to take your baby or young child to the dentist. For example, did you know that your breast feeding problems might be related to a tongue or lip tie? Or that your child might be wetting the bed because of a narrow palate? If your child is having difficulty with speech you may also want to look more closely into dentistry for children in Lone Tree, CO. Tongue and Lip Ties More and more women are choosing to breast feed now that healthcare professionals are clear about the benefits of breast feeding. While it may not always be possible, if a woman wants to breast feed, it is important that any barriers to doing so are taken care of. One of the lesser known problems that can make breast feeding difficult is a lip or tongue tie. They often happen in conjunction with one another. A tongue tie occurs when the thin piece of skin under the tongue (called the frenum) is too tight. There are varying degrees and even a tie that looks severe might not affect the baby. However, if your baby is not gaining weight, has a difficult time latching, and you are experiencing pain and soreness, you may want to have the tongue checked for a tie. Pediatric dentists can either clip or use a laser to release the tie and make it easier for the baby to nurse properly. An upper lip tie can also make it difficult to breast feed, though this is usually not as significant of a problem. In order to get a good seal around the nipple, the baby must be able to flip his upper and lower lips out. If the upper lip is tied, it can be difficult to flip outwards, causing a poor seal. Bed Wetting You may be surprised to find out that several studies have shown a link between breathing problems and bed wetting. Children who snore, have enlarged adenoids or tonsils, or who have narrow palates --which push the tongue backwards, causing breathing problems--have significantly higher rates of bed wetting than children without breathing problems. While researchers are not sure why there is a link, there are several theories. One is that low blood oxygen levels affect hormone levels related to the production of urine. Another theory posits that breathing problems create pressure in the abdomen. For whatever the reason, studies have shown that children who wet the bed and have their adenoids or their tonsils removed show almost immediate improvement in bed wetting. Similarly, children with narrow palates and bed wetting problems have stopped wetting the bed when the palate is widened using an orthodontic device. Speech Problems If you are worried about your child's speech, you will probably want to see a speech therapist. You may also want to talk to your pediatric dentist about possible dental problems which may be causing or contributing to your child's speech problem. Abnormalities in the palate, jaw, tongue, and teeth can all affect a person's speech. Another possible side effect of an unresolved tongue tie is speech problems. These are all important reasons for you to research dentistry for children in Lone Tree, CO, and find a pediatric dentist to care for your family. Even if you are not experiencing any of these particular problems, your child's oral health is important and will benefit from the combined attention of both you and a qualified dentist.
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