Baby teeth may be replaceable, but taking care of them is still essential. They are the placeholders for adult teeth. That is why you should care for your child’s teeth properly.
But, some parents struggle when gauging the state of their child’s dental health. Read on below to know how to start caring for your child’s dental health early on.
How to Keep Your Child’s Teeth Health
Below are three crucial tips that can help keep your child’s teeth healthy. With these tips, you put your child on the right track towards having healthy teeth, even as an adult.
Take Care of Their Gums
Even if your newborn still has no teeth, you should still take care of their dental health. Taking care of their gums is important to ensure that their first tooth can grow with no problems.
Use a moistened washcloth or gauze to wipe your child’s gums twice a day. Make sure to wash your child’s gums after feedings and before they sleep.
Washing their gums can remove bacteria and prevent germs from clinging to the organ. When your child’s teeth begin to grow, use a soft toothbrush to clean the new teeth.
Give Them Less Sweet Foods
Sweet foods, like juices, candy, or fruit leather, can cause cavities. When the bacteria in the mouth processes sugar, they produce acids that cause the loss of enamel.
If your kids eat sweet foods, make them rinse their mouth or brush their teeth right after eating. Doing this can wash away the sugar that sticks to the teeth.
Brush Their Teeth Properly
For children with new teeth, you need a soft toothbrush with a small head that can fit inside your child’s mouth.
You can also soak the brush in warm water before brushing to soften the bristles.
It would be best if you used fluoride toothpaste to protect and toughen the enamel. Using it early can provide extra protection for your child’s developing teeth.
Make sure that when you brush your child’s teeth, they can spit out the toothpaste after brushing.
Children must not swallow fluoride in toothpaste. Too much fluoride can cause teeth discoloration or fluorosis.
When to See a Dentist
If your child is missing school because of dental issues, visit your local emergency dentist, whether that be an emergency Hamilton dentist or dentist in Milton.
There are a lot of local emergency dentists in cities across Ontario and Canadian children miss 2.26 million school days yearly due to dental-related illnesses. This figure highlights the importance of teaching proper dental hygiene to kids.
You can also visit a dentist even without any dental emergencies. You can set an appointment after your child’s first birthday.
During your child’s first dental visit, the dentist will teach proper brushing techniques. There will be a modified dental exam to evaluate your child’s dental health.
Regular visits will help your dentist detect dental problems early. Early detection allows the dentist to come up with a solution faster.
Regular visits will also allow your kid to get used to visiting the dentist. The visits can reduce the fear they experience as they grow older.
Healthy teeth can make your child be more confident. With proper dental hygiene, your child can be ready to face their day with a smile.
