Did you know that having healthy teeth helps children boost their confidence and participation in their social life? Healthy teeth are vital for a child’s overall health. Teeth play an important function by helping you chew, talk, and eat.
Giving your child the best dental health is greatly recommended, starting from the earlier ages of development to adulthood. It sets the pace for your children to practice good oral habits as they grow up. On the other hand, poor oral hygiene leads to diseases, infections, and other oral problems.
Creating an effective dental routine for children can be a daunting task, but it is achievable, and the sooner you introduce them to a working routine, the better. To make dental hygiene a routine, use these tips:
- Get Check-up
Introduce your children to a dentist by the time they are one year old. Early oral hygiene saves you money and possible future damages to a child’s health.
- Create Good Habits
Brushing of teeth should be introduced even before the formation of teeth. Before your baby develops teeth, use a soft washcloth or a baby toothbrush with soft bristles to brush their gums.
As soon as their teeth appear, encourage brushing at least twice a day in the morning and before bedtime. You can start with toothpaste that doesn’t have fluoride because it is safe to swallow.
When your child is old enough to spit the toothpaste, you can switch to fluoride-based toothpaste. Show them or have the dentist show them how to brush. Brushing the tongue helps reduce bacteria formed in the mouth.
Be keen to change your child’s toothbrush every 3 to 6 months or immediately the bristles look worn.
- Watch the Diet
Children who eat lots of sugary and starchy foods have a high risk of getting cavities. Cavities are the bacteria(germs) formed in the mouth. As a parent, it is important to make healthy food choices for your children.
Limit the intake of soda, juice, and replace them with non-sugary drinks. In case your child eats sugary things, encourage them to brush their teeth afterward. During school vacations and other holidays, children tend to prefer snacking, but vacations are the worst for sugar consumption. You can offer the older kids sugar-free chewing gums that don’t cause cavities. Chewing gum provide advantages such as:
- Washing away pieces of food
- Freshens breathe
- They balance acid that causes tooth decay.
- Assist in the production of saliva
- Watch Out for Sweet Medicine
Most children’s medication is sweet to the taste and has flavor. When it sticks on the teeth, it may increase the chances of cavity infection. Some antibiotics and Asthma-related medication can significantly lead to the growth of yeast.
The yeast may cause oral infections known as oral thrush. It is important to consult your dentist if your child is on long-term medication to identify the best oral hygiene to reduce future problems.
Besides the above-mentioned oral care tips, it is important to introduce your children to the dentist early. Early check-ups will help them feel more comfortable and develop confidence in their dentist. When you establish a regular dental check-up routine, your child may be on the right track to oral hygiene.