Oral care is different at every stage of your child’s overall development. So if your kid has just turned two and you’re not entirely sure how to care for their newly-emerging teeth, you’re in the right place!
In this blog from Rowlett Dental Kids, we’ll discuss oral care tips in detail.
6 Tips For Parents To Keep Their Kid’s Teeth Fit & Healthy
1. Start To Brush Your Kid’s Teeth When They Are Young
Healthy habits can last a lifetime. So help your kid brush twice every day. You can begin when their first tooth emerges as a baby. Just use a cloth or a small brush to clean it. Our Rowlett dentists suggest that you can start using fluoride toothpaste at 18 months, starting with the size of a grain of rice.
After they have understood how & when to spit out the toothpaste, you can increase the amount to the size of a pea. From 3 years of age, you can teach your kids how to brush their baby teeth by themselves. When their teeth begin to grow, you can introduce flossing and mouthwash as well.
2. Limit Their Sugar Intake
One of the primary causes of tooth decay is high sugar levels in a kid’s diet. If you help your child comprehend that eating too many sweets and drinking sugary drinks can harm their teeth. Therefore, it is necessary to visit a children’s dentist to get your kid’s oral health examined & to find the solution to any ongoing dental issue.
3. Healthy Food
Besides practicing good oral hygiene habits, what kids eat also plays a crucial role in their dental health. Foods rich in calcium like cheese, yogurt, or leafy greens may support your child’s teeth by building up enamel. Calcium-rich foods help ward off cavities as they create a layer of protection between teeth and acids that strike tooth enamel. Additionally, kids should drink plenty of water throughout the day. Water helps balance plaque acids that could drive decay.
4. No Bottle At Bedtime
Falling asleep with a bottle or sippy cup may appear like a better way to ensure a drama-free bedtime, but this practice can do more harm than good. The sugar in milk or juice can quickly break down tooth enamel, specifically when liquids collect and sit in a sleeping child’s mouth. Switch to plain tap water for an effortless change before taking the nighttime drink away.
5. Make Flossing A Habit.
And just when you thought we were finished, we’re going to pitch in flossing. You’ve been reminded time and time again that brushing is just not enough for your kid’s teeth and how important it is to floss. And just as you should start brushing early, flossing should begin as soon as two teeth appear. Again, ensure to demonstrate to your child how to floss properly, and make it another part of their everyday oral care routine.
6. Be Careful With Pacifiers & Thumb Sucking
Both pacifiers and thumb-sucking are common habits in kids. However, if you’re not cautious, they can damage the shape of your child’s developing mouth and teeth. To avoid issues, make sure you eradicate both of these habits by the age of 3. If you can, urge a pacifier over the thumb since this habit can be harder to stop.
Get a Free Consultation Today
Rowlett dentist suggests every parent bring their child for a dental checkup, as soon as their first teeth emerge. It is a better practice to let the dentist monitor the oral health progress & determine if it is in good shape.
Even you, as a parent, can learn more about your kid’s oral health and how to care for their mouth properly. So, ensure your toddler sees an experienced pediatric dentist like Dr. Tera Pollock or Dr. Tony Nguyen for a better oral health assessment.