Every parent who has children aged 4-6 years needs to know this. It is important that you as parents should take care of your children’s teeth right from the beginning to emphasize the importance of keeping them clean.
It is recommended by dentists that you should start your children off with oral examinations and cleanings when their adult teeth erupt to ensure that they stay cavity free.
Here Are 6 Tips To Caring For Your Child’s Teeth:
Choose Healthy, Low Sugar Foods & Drinks For Your Child
Children who consume a lot of sugary foods and drinks have higher chances of getting cavities. It is important that you ensure that your child eats a healthy and nutritious diet.
Don’t give your child too many sugary drinks or foods and limit the number of sugary foods between their meals. Even if your children do consume sugary foods, make sure that they brush their teeth afterward. Avoid rewarding your children with sugary treats.
Help Your Children Clean Their Teeth Regularly
Personal dental hygiene should begin from a young age. You can start this oral habit by cleaning your child’s teeth with a very soft child-sized toothbrush twice a day with a pea sized amount of toothpaste.
Ask your orthodontist to show you the correct way to brush children’s teeth and teach your child to do the same.
You will need to assist your children in brushing their teeth till they are 7 to 8 years old after which they can move on to brushing with bigger toothbrushes on their own.
Make sure that your children change their toothbrushes every 6 months or when the bristles become worn out. Instruct your children to brush their teeth for two minutes and floss once a day as recommended by your orthodontist.
Use A Toothbrush With Very Soft Bristles & Toothpaste That Contains Fluoride
Buy a toothbrush that has very soft bristles when your child’s teeth start erupting and toothpaste that contains fluoride. Fluoride will strengthen your children’s developing tooth enamel, helping their teeth fight tooth decay and rebuild the weakened tooth enamel.
Make sure that your child does not swallow any of the fluoride toothpaste though.
Regular Dental Checkups Are Also Essential For Good Oral Health
Schedule regular dental checkups for your children as they are vital to maintaining good oral health. These checkups will allow your orthodontist to identify oral problems as they occur and begin treating them as soon as possible.
Make Sure Your Children Wear A Mouthguard While Playing Sports
You should also consider the safety of your child’s teeth when they take part in extracurricular activities. Make sure that your children wear a mouth guard if they play sports.
A mouth guard is a soft rubber retainer that helps to cushion your teeth from impact. Speak to your orthodontist about getting a custom-made mouth guard made if necessary.
Consult Your Family Orthodontist If Your Child Sucks His Thumb
It is pretty normal if babies suck on their fingers, thumbs or pacifiers.
Most children usually tend to give up this habit of sucking their thumbs by the age of 4 years but you should speak to your orthodontist if your child still continues to suck his thumb after this as this will help in preventing problems as your child’s teeth grow and develop.
Looking after your child’s mouth right from the beginning is the key to good oral health. It is best to consult your family orthodontist about when your child’s first visit should be as he will advise you on how to take care of your child’s permanent teeth.
Getting your child into the habit of visiting your family orthodontist from a young age will make your child a lot more comfortable with dental visits and increase your child’s teeth straightening options as well as maintaining good dental health.
You can find much more information on living a holistic lifestyle in these free magazines and on our YouTube channel.
Author Bio: Sharon William’s day job is to handle digital marketing for Koch Orthodontics in Lawrenceville, GA. With a flair for creating compelling content that clears the clutter and connects with the audience in an instant, she writes about dental topics to educate and help her readers. She truly believes that a genuine smile can win a million hearts and talks to her readers about improving their smiles and overall dental health, as well as enhancing their overall lifestyle. In her free time, she likes to organize small meets in her neighbourhood where she brings people together to discuss various topics that she writes about.
