Caring for Your Child's Teeth: What You Need to Know

Caring for your child’s teeth is part of managing their general health and well being. You, as a responsible parent, can start as early as infancy to prime them for what’s to come in the later years. But apart from the obvious toothbrushing, what are the essentials to children’s oral health?

This article breaks down the necessary protocols for toothbrushing, flossing, their diet, and getting the necessary dental appointments. By the end of this guide, you will be equipped with all the necessary information you need to keep your child’s teeth clean at every stage of their early childhood. That way, you can set a good example for them to follow through with as they continue to mature.

Your Child and Proper Brushing

Foundational to good oral hygiene and care is proper tooth brushing and flossing. For the infancy stage, you will, of course, have to administer most of the cleaning and care. Once they hit the age of two, you can start teaching them to do it on their own.

You can introduce good oral hygiene practices to your baby even if teething hasn’t started. Use a clean washcloth dampened with water and wipe over their gums. Doing so helps eliminate any harmful bacteria that sticks there.

Once your baby starts to grow infant teeth, you can use a baby toothbrush. Make sure that you use a fluoride toothpaste that has the American Dental Association’s (ADA) seal, and only use a rice grain-sized amount at a time. If their teeth start to touch, you can administer dental floss. You can increase the amount of toothpaste to pea-size once they are older.

At around the age of three or four, they can start brushing and flossing by themselves but under close parental supervision. This is due to the possible risk of them swallowing the toothpaste. Just keep a watchful eye on them and instruct them to spit out after brushing their teeth. At this point, brushing should be done twice a day.

In later years, you no longer need to be around, as they integrate this healthy habit into their own routines.

Your Child’s Diet

Good tooth brushing and flossing is best paired with a good diet that regulates sugar intake for better cavity control. Youngsters love sugar, and it is often difficult to get them to avoid it, so you have to teach them at an early age what it can do to their teeth if they consume too much.

At the top of the list is avoiding candy and soda. Make sure to read the ingredients list of whatever you feed them to help control how much of it they eat. Plus, be careful of so-called healthy products, like children’s gummy medicines and fruit juices. These contain plenty of sugar, too.

Keeping an eye on this will help preventing cavities and help kids stay healthy. It also lessens the possibility of experiencing related diseases triggered by high sugar consumption. Don’t think about these treats as rewards for them; use them as occasional snacks.

Dental Consultations for Your Children

Thankfully, there are accessible and affordable dentistry services made specifically for families. In the case of your child, you need to condition them to see dentists as their friends and people that they can trust.

During their routine checkup or teeth cleaning, request for painless methods or have them explain why it is necessary to administer a certain tool or procedure to your child. You can also reward them after for their bravery and cooperation.

Additionally, you can consult whether or not the toothbrush or toothpaste you use is an effective tool. You, too, must look at your dentist as a partner to better dental care for your child.

Conclusion

Stay guided and responsible as a parent by looking after your child’s oral hygiene. See it as an opportunity for them to follow through and become responsible in the long run about their own health.

Are you in need of dental care in Ann Arbor and Waterford? Consult with us at Dental House, and we can help keep you and your family’s teeth in check with our professional, affordable dentistry services!