With studies consistently proving the link between good oral health and good heart health, it’s more important than ever before to ensure that we teach our kids excellent habits when it comes to looking after their teeth. Here’s how to do it:
Start Early
It’s almost impossible to start too early. As soon as your baby cuts her first milk tooth, you can, if you wish, begin a brushing routine. While brushing a single tooth may seem a bit strange at first, it’s an effective way for your very young child to get used to the idea of brushing as something that happens as part of their daily routine. As your child gets older, brushing will already be well ingrained as a normal part of the morning and evening.
You can even take your baby for a first trip to the dentist’s office as soon as they have a few milk teeth; again, this is mainly simply so that they get used to the idea of the chair and the process, but it will also allow the dentist to check that everything looks ok and to schedule in their next visit.
As your child gets older, make sure you continue to visit the dentist’s office for regular check-ups; even if you are a nervous patient, it’s important to be relaxed about the appointments and make them a positive experience for your son or daughter.
Make Brushing Fun
I understand: this is easier said than done. But once your child is a bit older, encourage them to have a go at brushing their teeth themselves. At first, you could guide your child’s hand so that they can feel the correct movement and use a mirror so that they can see where and how they need to clean. Be sure to stay and supervise to minimize incidences of toothpaste swallowing; you may also need to do a ‘check’ (read: proper brush) when they’re done, but at least they’re forming good habits.
Make things a bit more entertaining by utilizing timers, buying a manual or electric brush that features their favorite cartoon characters, or by putting on their favorite song and asking them to brush for the duration of the track!
While your child is brushing, make sure they don’t run around, which could potentially cause an injury.
Make an Orthodontist Visit If Necessary
Once your child’s adult teeth have come through, if there are issues with alignment, then it could be a good idea to make a visit to see your orthodontist. This can usually be done via a referral from your child’s regular dentist. As well as helping to improve confidence, teeth alignment can also sort out issues that may affect your child’s ability to chew properly, for example.
While some people choose an at-home solution, which involves being assessed remotely, following which aligners are posted out to users, many still prefer to have in-person contact with an orthodontist throughout their treatment. For an option that allows for this, read the ClearCorrect review here; this option can work to resolve issues including crossbite, overbite, crowding, spacing, and deep bite.
Limit Sugary Drinks and Snacks
Regularly consuming sugary food and drinks can lead to plaque, tooth decay, cavities, and gum disease. Limit these items, rather than offering them every day. Encourage your kids to make healthy choices by role modeling behavior and teaching them the importance of a good diet and how sugar can affect their teeth – and overall health.
Water or milk are the best drinks for kids; fruit juice should be given at mealtimes only to help mitigate the effects it can have on the teeth. Choose unsweetened cereal, and switch sweets for popcorn and candy for cubes of cheese and celery sticks at snack time to help lower your child’s sugar consumption.
Think About Floss
From the age of twelve, your child can use dental floss if they wish. Flossing is an effective way to remove food debris from between the teeth that standard brushes may not be able to reach and to prevent the buildup of plaque in these areas.
Flossing can take some practice, but your dentist will be happy to show your child how to do so if this would be helpful. It’s not unusual for gums to bleed when someone first starts to floss, so don’t panic if your child alerts you that this has happened. However, if, after a few days, your gums are continuing to bleed, then book an appointment with your child’s dentist, who can check that they are flossing correctly. This dentist in batavia is one of you best options if you’re around the area
Healthy Teeth For Life
Instilling effective dental hygiene habits is a great gift to give your kids and will stand them in good stead throughout their adult lives, too. As well as promoting excellent teeth and gum health, a healthy mouth means we’re less susceptible to many conditions, including stroke, heart problems, and mental health issues. Infections that can gain access to the body via compromised gums can also cause significant problems.
Get your child started with a dental hygiene routine as early as possible to promote wellness that extends well beyond strong teeth and gums.
