Keeping your Child’s Teeth Healthy
A baby’s teeth come can begin coming in from between 3 to 9 months old. These little chompers will soon affect the child’s speech, chewing, and other important developments. Additionally, baby teeth pave the way for healthy permanent teeth down the line. Therefore, it is extremely important to begin oral hygiene early for your baby. This ensures your little one will grow up with good oral hygiene habits and avoid the consequences of unhealthy teeth.
When to Begin?
Tooth brushing should start as soon as the first teeth erupt. You want to use a very soft bristled brush that is meant for little ones. Finger brushes are also available. These fit over your finger for you to easily brush your infant’s teeth. You can start off with wetting the brush with just water to gently clean the teeth. Dentists recommend using a pea sized amount of tooth paste with fluoride once you know your child will be less likely to swallow the paste. You will want to do this two to three times a day or after each feeding.
Once you notice two or more teeth are touching, you can begin flossing. This will help to remove the bacteria that develops between the teeth and under the gums. Early oral care with your child will help them develop excellent habits from an early age and aid you in keeping your child’s teeth healthy. After all, getting your kiddos take care of their teeth when they are older can can be a difficult habit to maintain!
Dental Visit
Many parents are surprised to learn that dentists recommend a dental visit by their child’s first birthday. Why so early? Baby teeth are just as susceptible to cavities as are adult teeth. Getting a check-up at a young age will help identify any issues early on that need to be addressed. Further, your dentist has a trained eye. Therefore, they can identify problems that may be hard to see as a parent, and thus recommend simple, preventative steps.
Nutrition
How often a child eats is just as important as what they eat. If they are constantly snacking, especially on sugary foods, the teeth are more likely to develop decay. This is because saliva will have less opportunity to wash away enamel eating acid that is produced from food. So help your child to be aware of what and when they are eating. Of course, brushing and flossing daily will greatly decrease chances of cavities.
Keep Your Child’s Teeth Healthy
In conclusion, remember to set the example as a parent. If your kids see you taking good care of your teeth, they are able to imitate your example! As you will see, keeping your child’s teeth healthy may be easier than you thought! Dr. Perry is great with kids and is always happy to assist you in keeping your child’s teeth healthy.