Without a doubt, dental health is essential at any age. Notably, what is even more critical is for the young ones to begin with a strong foundation of proper oral care. Once permanent teeth start to come in, it would be prudent to make it a priority to help a child with brushing, flossing and cleaning the teeth. Note that these teeth will last for the rest of their life, and not keeping them clean may lead to long term dental complications. It is important to know some tips that can go a long way in helping to take care of your kid’s teeth. The following are some common yet excellent tips that will help your child maintain a healthy, clean and happy smile.
Start dental care early
When a child is at the age of developing permanent teeth, visit a pediatric dentist near you. Here, you can consult a dentist to find out when your child should come in for their first dental checkup. It is correct to say that a child may only have one or two teeth by their first birthday. Even so, no one can deny the importance of starting proper dental care as early as possible. Taking a child into a dental office on the first birthday implies that a dentist will ensure that the first tooth is off to a great start. It also helps your child feel comfortable about sitting in the dentist’s chair in future situations.
Avoid breastfeeding at night
According to dentists, breastfeeding at night can cause cavities, especially to children with milk teeth. Breast milk is sweeter than formula. If it is left inside the mouth of a child during bedtime, it may introduce bacteria that may lead to cavities. The sugar in breast milk can rapidly break down tooth enamel when it stays in a sleeping child’s mouth. You can give plain warm water to a child immediately after breastfeeding to act as a mouth rinse. You can also visit any dental clinic in Edmonton for more information on how to reduce the chances of dental cavities caused by breast milk.
Do not allow your child to brush or floss alone
It is not advisable to let your child brush or floss their teeth without supervision. It is worthwhile to note that most children lack the motor skills to brush their teeth on their own. Without proper guidance, kids will graze their toothbrush over teeth quickly rather than brushing all teeth at appropriate angles. Therefore, an adult should supervise their efforts until they are about the age of six or so. Proper and effective brushing lasts between two to three minutes. Flossing may take close to fifteen minutes. Help your toddler to brush their teeth by moving the brush in circles not horizontally.
Set an example
As you have probably noticed, children love imitating the actions of adults. In the efforts of helping your children keep their teeth clean, brush together! Besides, show them oral health is important by making sure that the rest of your family practices impeccable dental hygiene. During your visit to a pediatric dentist in Edmonton, ask for advice on various ways to make tooth-brushing fun.
Use fluoride toothpaste from the start
Many parents buy a “safe if swallowed” non-fluoridated training toothpaste for their toddlers. However, dentists recommend that you can use toothpaste as soon as a baby develops his or her first tooth. It is okay if you use a tiny grain-of-rice-size drop at first. Then, go with the size of a pea starting at age 3. In general, there is no harm for your toddler to use toothpaste. If in doubt about this or the toothpaste that your child should use, visit a dentist near you.
At Impression Dental, we care about the overall dental health of young ones. If you need assistance, do not hesitate to get in touch with us.
