How to Maintain Oral Health in Kids and Promote In-Between Cleaning
Many parents find it difficult to judge how much dental care their children need. They don’t know when to start their first dental visits or when their children should get braces, among other things. This article will help you understand how to keep your kid’s teeth healthy.
When Should I Start Brushing My Child’s Teeth?
Perhaps the most asked question in pediatric dentistry. Well, you should start practicing proper oral hygiene way before the first tooth erupts. Use a clean, damp washcloth to clean the gums of your kid at least twice a day. This helps get rid of bacteria, which can lead to infection.
By the time of your kid’s first birthday, you should ensure that you have visited the dentist at least once. Babies can get tooth decay, and the dentist can help you prevent that from happening. He will teach you things you should avoid, such as feeding your kid juice and other sugary drinks with a bottle.
Sugar from these drinks can eat away the enamel of your kid’s teeth, which can lead to baby bottle tooth decay. It also leads to discoloration of kid’s teeth, and in extreme cases, the dentist may have to extract your baby’s tooth.
When your baby develops baby teeth, you can use a kid’s toothbrush to clean them. Use a small amount of fluoride toothpaste. Your pediatric dentist will help get the right measurement of toothpaste you should use for your kid.
When your baby is about two years old, start teaching him/her how to spit after cleaning his/her teeth. Supervise your child until he/she is about eight years old to ensure he/she doesn’t swallow the toothpaste.
A pediatric dentist will help you with tips you can use to ensure your kid’s teeth remain as healthy as possible. Also, he will advise you accordingly during various milestones.
In as much as the dentist has a role to play, you have the biggest role. Here is what you need to do to keep your kid’s teeth healthy.
Tips for Healthy Teeth for Your Kid
Getting your kid accustomed to healthy habits is imperative for a good oral health. So, make sure you check out these tips to make sure your kids develop a healthy habit.
Get Checkup
Ensure that you plan a schedule with a pediatric dentist after the first visit. Early preventive care helps save your child’s teeth in the long run. These visits also help the child to build trust with the dentist, so he can listen to what he has to say, and can overcome the dentist’s fear as early as possible.
Teach Good Oral Habits
Teach your child to brush his/her teeth 2+ times a day. If possible, make it after every meal. At an early age, when the child can’t do it herself, take responsibility. Use a soft washcloth or baby toothbrush to clean his/her teeth and gums. Your pediatric dentist will help you with the right techniques.
Avoid Baby Bottle Decay
Most people put their infants to sleep with bottles of juice, milk, or other sugary drinks. Well, this is wrong. It promotes baby bottle decay. If you have to put your child to sleep with a bottle, ensure it contains just water.
Add Calcium-Rich Foods in Your Kid’s Diet
Calcium is a mineral well-known for helping protect the enamel. Try to incorporate food that contains calcium in your baby’s diet at least once in a day. Calcium can be found in foods and drinks such as soybeans, almond milk, canned fish, and dairy products.
Rinse after Meals
If you cannot brush your child’s teeth after every meal, then ensure to rinse his/her mouth after every meal to get rid of the debris. Encourage your child to do this after every meal for about 30 seconds before spitting the water out in the sink. This is not as effective as brushing, but it helps keep your child’s teeth healthy.
Use Fluoridated Water and Toothpaste
Fluoride is a naturally occurring mineral that is essential when it comes to strengthening your baby’s teeth and preventing them from decay. Your pediatric dentist will help you choose the right products for your kid, products that meet the FDA standards. You can talk to us if you are looking for a kid’s dentist in Paramus.
Visit Our Office
Visit our office in Paramus Park Mall Dental for the best pediatric dentistry services. At Paramus Dental Care, we take conserving your child’s healthy tooth structure as our priority. We also provide our services to teens and adults. You can count on our personalized care and experience. Book an appointment online now!