As a parent, you’re always searching for ways to provide the best care you can to your kids. That means you want them to have super healthy smiles. It can be a little difficult to make sure that your child takes good care of their teeth, because there are so many things to remember. There are, of course, plenty of useful tips and tricks that can make it seem like a walk in the park to maintain good oral hygiene.
8 Best Practices That Can Keep Kids Teeth and Gums Healthy
1) Begin Proper Habits of Oral Hygiene ASAP
After each meal, gently clean the gums and freshly erupting first teeth of your child with a water-soaked gauze pad or damp washcloth.
2) Brush With Care
Using no more than a thin smear of fluoridated toothpaste, brush them gently with a small, soft-bristled toothbrush when your baby’s teeth come in.
3) Educating your kids
You should start teaching your child proper brushing techniques with no more than a pea-sized quantity of fluoridated toothpaste when your child turns 3. By gently brushing your teeth again, you can follow up on their efforts. It’s necessary to model the correct technique. When your child is about 6 years old, he/she should be developing the dexterity to do it alone. You can then introduce flossing.
4) Check your water
Determine if there is fluoridation of the water source that serves your home. If not, consult with your dentist about supplement choices. Bear in mind that fluoride can also be found in toothpaste and different foods.
5) Fight Baby Bottle Tooth Decay
Don’t let your child go to sleep with anything but water filled with a pacifier or bottle. The potential for decay increases significantly when teeth are regularly exposed to fluids containing sugar (including breast milk and formula) for long periods.
6) Avoiding sugar
Understand that it will take the saliva at least 30 minutes to neutralize the acidity formed by decay-producing bacteria if your child swallows sugars. A sugar snack every hour may mean that the mouth of your child is always acidic, increasing the likelihood of tooth decay.
7) Make an appointment for a dentist
Around the time of his or her first birthday, and then periodically thereafter, your child should see a dentist. It is important to establish a dental home.
8) Prevent Cavities
Ask your dentist about dental sealants and fluoride applications to protect your child’s teeth. Sealants can prevent food from getting stuck on chewing surfaces and topical fluoride in the tiny grooves.
There are so many tips for oral hygiene that parents can use to help preserve the perfect health of their child’s teeth. Promoting good habits in childhood will create a proper oral hygiene routine that will support them for their entire life, from promoting proper brushing and flossing to feeding them a mouth-healthy diet. Of course, for daily cleanings and checkups, it’s really important to bring your child in.
Are You Looking for an Amazing Dentist For Your Kids?
With over 30 years of professional experience helping young patients protect and beautify their smiles, Balfour Dental continues to be the preferred dental office for children and their families in Brentwood California and the surrounding communities of Antioch, Oakley, Discovery Bay and beyond! Dr. Rayani and Dr. Siao both have many different certifications, including Invisalign Certification, Implant Dentistry, Sleep Apnea Treatment, Cerec CAD-CAM Restorations, Neuromuscular Dentistry, and Implants respectively. Our dental office is locally owned and operated by Dr. Dimple Rayani and Dr. Sien Siao, two professionals with vast experience in Implant Retained Denture treatments as well as in general dentistry. If you are looking to help your kid’s smile, contact Balfour Dental today!