It's pretty well known that excellent dental hygiene and the care of your gums is important. However, some people may not realize that neglecting the care of your teeth and gums can even be a threat to your physical health, even leading up to death. Poor dental health can be a contributing factor to heart disease, diabetes, and other serious illnesses. Here are some things to consider as you plan the dental care for your family. 

At Home - Even before your babies have teeth you should be concerned about them. For example, brand new mothers may be tempted to let their babies go to sleep with a bottle of milk or juice, as this may lull them to sleep. However, that's a possible precursor to teeth not growing in correctly or to them being prone to cavities. If you do feel like your baby needs to suck for soothing purposes, consider offering him or her a bottle or water or a pacifier. As your child gets older, consider having a chart on which your child can mark when teeth have been brushed and flossed, offering a reward for a job well done.

The Right Dentist - Think of selecting a dentist that will treat your entire family. Even if your dentist isn't a pediatric dentist, it's important to find a dentist and a hygienist that are good with kids and that will make them feel at ease while they're in the dental chair. It's also important to connect with a dental office where the  rest of the office staff is pleasant, courteous and professional. 

Special Dentistry - Your dentist may need to refer you or your children to a specialist. Pretty much everybody in the United States knows about orthodontists. However, some may not be familiar with the type of dentist that will be needed in case a root canal is ordered. Unless your family dentist is a trained endodontist, he or she will refer you to one who is trained in this special field. Even though you will be sedated for this procedure and you will probably not feel a lot of pain, be ready to be in the chair for a long time, approximately one to two hours.

Endodontists ​have received extra training and they use state-of-the-art equipment like operating microscopes, fiber optics and digital imaging that will mean your treatment will be done quickly and comfortably.