Start Your Child On A Lifetime Of Dental Health

Start Your Child On A Lifetime Of Dental Health

By admin January 21st

Great lifelong dental health doesn’t just happen, it takes constant attention and lifelong upkeep. Even in your child’s early formative years, good dental hygiene is essential and establishing great habits at the earliest moment possible will help to ensure a lifetime of healthy, happy teeth. But how early is too early? Which habits are best to from first, and when? How do I help prevent cavities and tooth decay for my child?

To put it simply, it is never too early to start your child on a life of great dental hygiene.

Here are a few tips and tricks to help you set your kids off on the right track.

When to Start Brushing and Flossing?

Believe it or not, your child’s teeth begin to form during the second trimester of pregnancy, and by birth, most children will have 20 fully developed primary teeth lurking just below the gumline. Using a clean, dampened washcloth, you should gently wipe out your child’s mouth daily to prevent bacterial buildup. As your child begins teething, use a soft-bristled infant toothbrush and a rice-grain sized bit of toothpaste to carefully brush each tooth individually. Once your child has two teeth that touch, begin gently flossing between their touching teeth. As your child grows and begins to be able to use utensils by themselves to eat, they should have the motor skills to brush by themselves, though you still may need to floss for them to prevent injury to the gums. By this point, they should be brushing twice daily, morning and night, and anytime after eating very sugary or acidic foods.

Avoid Excessive Bottle Feeding or Chewing

Tooth decay can occur as soon as your child begins teething. Bottle feeding tends to leave behind a good amount of formula, juice, or breastmilk that sticks in and around your baby’s teeth, the sugars from which can cause tooth decay and cavities. Make sure to promptly wipe out the mouth or brush any erupted teeth after bottle-feeding your child, and try to get them using sippy cups as early as possible, around 6 months of age, as these tend to leave less residue in the mouth after use. Chewing on the “nipple” of a bottle or teething toys, or excessive use of binkies can also weaken your child’s tooth enamel, so be sure to limit the use of these items for your child.

As your child grows older, discourage chewing habits, such as chewing on pencils, pens, erasers, sucking on thumbs or fingers, and chewing ice. These habits not only weaken enamel but can in themselves push teeth out of their natural position, leading to orthodontic care in the future which may otherwise be unnecessary.

First Dentist Visit

Your child’s first visit to the dentist should be around or before their first birthday, as by this point they should have a decent number of teeth to be checked out. These early visits help to not only quickly identify early problems in your child’s dental health but can help acclimate your child to appointments early, preventing anxiety towards visits in the future. A well trained pediatric dentist specializes in treating children and can help with a wide range of issues that may affect your child, as well as administer preventative treatment such as fluoride applications, even before all of their teeth have come through.

Keep a Healthy Diet, Keep Healthy Teeth

Beyond preventing conditions such as childhood obesity, diabetes, and heart disease, a healthy, well-balanced diet goes a long way towards protecting your child’s dental health. Sugary treats and acidic drinks increase bacterial growth and wear away at tooth enamel, setting them up for a lifetime of tooth decay. Diets rich in lean protein, vegetables, and fruits help to provide the nutrients needed for your child, and their teeth, to grow up healthy and strong. And while fruits contain a decent amount of sugar, they pale in comparison to the sugar content of candies and other junk food. A little extra brushing after eating fruits is recommended, but you shouldn’t avoid them altogether.

Once your child is off breastfeeding or a formula diet, it may seem enticing to encourage fruit and calcium consumption through juice and milk, and these are not a terrible option, just beware of the extra sugar content of fruit juices and the acidity of milk and be sure to encourage brushing immediately after enjoying these drinks. The same goes for soda, though it is never in your child’s best interest to consume large amounts of this in the first place. Keep the pop consumption as an occasional treat and brush and floss immediately after any amount to prevent cavities.

When it comes to establishing great dental hygiene habits for your child, it is never too early to start. Our pediatric dentistry staff here at Elko Dental Specialists are fully trained to help you set your child up for success when it comes to their dental health and administer any and all necessary and preventative care for them.

Call (775) 753-6118 or contact us to set up an appointment and see how we can help your child achieve their healthiest mouth possible today.

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