{"id":138,"date":"2026-10-22T19:34:27","date_gmt":"2026-10-22T19:34:27","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.buffalogrovepediatricdentistry.com\/blog\/2026\/10\/22\/childrens-dentistry-myths\/"},"modified":"2026-10-22T19:34:27","modified_gmt":"2026-10-22T19:34:27","slug":"childrens-dentistry-myths","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.buffalogrovepediatricdentistry.com\/blog\/2026\/10\/22\/childrens-dentistry-myths\/","title":{"rendered":"It\u2019s Time for the Facts: 3 Children\u2019s Dentistry Myths Busted"},"content":{"rendered":"
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If you\u2019re a parent trying to understand children\u2019s dentistry<\/a> and how you can better care for the growing smiles in your home, you\u2019ve probably run into a few questionable \u201cfacts\u201d along the way. Countless myths make it hard to know what’s true, but you’re not alone in your search for what is right, so here are three misconceptions it\u2019s time to bust.<\/p><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

Children Don\u2019t Need Help Brushing Their Teeth<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

You want your child to be independent, but when it comes to their teeth, don\u2019t leave it up to them to do it right the first time. In fact, they probably won\u2019t develop the right technique until they are older. Most dentists recommend that parents help their children until they are 6 to 8, then switch to supervising their brushing routine. This ensures they cover all surfaces for the necessary two minutes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sugar Is the Only Cause of Cavities<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Sugar may be a common cause of cavities, but it\u2019s far from the only one. If your little one enjoys carb-heavy foods, like pasta, bread, cereal, crackers, chips, etc., you may be in for a rude awakening during their next dental visit. Starches can do just as much damage as sugars, increasing harmful plaque and causing cavities. One way to remedy this is to shift your child\u2019s diet toward healthier foods, such as dairy-based options, leafy greens, lean proteins, and plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables. Also, ask the dentist about preventive services, including dental sealants, to protect their chewing teeth from decay.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Baby Teeth Don\u2019t Need Regular Care<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

You\u2019re not alone in thinking baby teeth don\u2019t need the same care as adult ones, especially since they fall out. Unfortunately, this misconception leads many young patients to need fillings and crowns at an early age. Yes, baby teeth eventually fall out and are replaced by permanent ones, but until then, they need to stay healthy and in place. Early tooth loss can cause teeth to drift, making it hard for adult teeth to erupt. It also hinders chewing and speech.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Make sure you brush their teeth as soon as the first baby tooth erupts. This will keep them healthy and strong until it\u2019s time to say goodbye to these teeth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Separating fact from fiction can make a difference in your child\u2019s smile. If you\u2019re unsure about a particular \u201cfact\u201d you\u2019ve heard or read, don\u2019t hesitate to ask your dentist. They\u2019ll make sure you have the right information and don\u2019t fall for common misconceptions about children\u2019s dentistry.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

About the Author<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Dr. Nick Capezio is a board-certified pediatric dentist who earned his dental degree from Boston University. He returned to Chicago to complete his pediatric specialty training. As the trusted leader at Capezio Pediatric Dentistry, he regularly provides educational information to parents and patients to help avoid myths and misconceptions. If you have questions about your child\u2019s oral health, visit our website<\/a> or call (<\/strong>847<\/strong>) <\/strong>459<\/strong>–<\/strong>9100<\/strong> to schedule an appointment.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

If you\u2019re a parent trying to understand children\u2019s dentistry and how you can better care for the growing smiles in your home, you\u2019ve probably run into a few questionable \u201cfacts\u201d along the way. Countless myths make it hard to know what’s true, but you’re not alone in your search for what is right, so here […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-138","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.buffalogrovepediatricdentistry.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/138","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.buffalogrovepediatricdentistry.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.buffalogrovepediatricdentistry.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.buffalogrovepediatricdentistry.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.buffalogrovepediatricdentistry.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=138"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.buffalogrovepediatricdentistry.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/138\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.buffalogrovepediatricdentistry.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=138"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.buffalogrovepediatricdentistry.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=138"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.buffalogrovepediatricdentistry.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=138"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}