Making sure that your kids look after their baby teeth is just as important as ensuring that they look after their adult teeth when they come through. Improper care of baby teeth can lead to toothache, fillings, and even the need to have teeth removed by a Salinas Dentist which can be both painful and traumatic for a child. Teaching children good oral hygiene should start as soon as possible in order to make sure that they develop good dental care habits that will stay with them for life. If you’ve got young children and want to make sure that they take good care of their teeth, we’ve got some easy and fun tips.
Visit a Salinas Dentist Early
Many parents put off taking their child to the dentist early as they’re worried that their child will be fearful. Some parents won’t take their children to the dentist as they have a phobia themselves. However, the best thing that you can do for your child is to make sure that you take her to the dentist within a matter of months from cutting her first tooth, ideally under the age of one year old. The sooner you start to schedule dentist visits for your child, the easier it will be to spot and deal with any potential oral health problems. If you’re looking for a good family dentist, Dr. Mark Washburn DSS is a Salinas Dentist with experience working with kids of all ages.
Use Fluoride Toothpaste
Many parents buy the ‘safe to swallow’ toothpaste for their kids, but the American Dental Association has recently changed its long-standing safety guidelines, stating that it’s safe to start brushing your child’s teeth with fluoride toothpaste from as early as when they cut their first tooth. Dr. Washburn, your Salinas Dentist, recommends a small amount around the size of a rice grain is enough for the first thirty-six months, then upgrade to a pea-sized dollop of toothpaste when your child reaches age three. Tooth decay in kids is becoming more and more regular these days, and a good fluoride toothpaste can help to combat this in your child.
Floss Daily
Lots of parents think that it doesn’t matter about flossing when it comes to baby teeth, but the truth is that they are wrong. Flossing is just important for your child’s milk teeth as it is for when they grow adult teeth, as it helps to clean the dirt and plaque from in between the teeth and keep them healthy and strong. Teaching your child to floss their teeth daily also helps them to continue a healthy habit as they grow into teenagers and eventually into adults. Research shows that we’re more likely to continue the habits we learned as kids – so start your child flossing their teeth as soon as possible. You can buy dental floss that’s designed for child use and your dentist will be able to help you teach your child to floss their teeth if you struggle.
How do you make sure that your child takes good care of their teeth?