Keeping Your Child’s Teeth Healthy

Children’s teeth should be taken care of as early as possible because, as a parent, you carry the greatest responsibility for your their dental care. Regular visits to the dentist, the right teeth and mouth care, as well as healthy eating habits, contribute to a beautiful and healthy smile that your child will be thankful for in the future. Here’s how you can establish proper oral health and teach your children how important it is for their whole body.

Start early

Regular annual checkups are essential for your child’s dental health. It would be great if you could book a dentist appointment before your child grows all their teeth, which is basically between their second and the third year. During their first visit to the dentist, the child sees the office for the first time, notices the smell, and the dental drill sounds. During the visit, the dentist will explain how to properly maintain their oral health, brush their teeth and teach them some flossing techniques. You should never make them think that going to the dentist is a bad thing, or let them see that you are scared. Dentist visits should be represented as a positive experience, and not like a scary place they’re forced to go to. Also, the dentist will teach you how to use fluoride varnish. Fluoride should be used regularly, and a small amount is enough to help continuous renewal of the tooth surface and protection. Children aged three and up should be using only a pea-sized amount of fluoride toothpaste.

Shielding their teeth at the sports court

Once your child is old enough to participate in team sports such as football, basketball or even wrestling, it’s crucial to protect their teeth from potential harms. During these sports activities, dental injuries are most likely to happen, especially in wrestling. Therefore, the best way to protect your child’s teeth is to provide them a wrestling mouth guard that successfully prevents jaw, lip and mouth injuries. This device is much needed for this type of a rough sport, and it keeps your child safe on the wrestling field.

Make teeth brushing fun!

Your child must be taught to think that taking care of their teeth is an exciting part of the day, rather than a boring activity they are forced to do. Depending on how many teeth have come through, you should adjust the toothbrush to your child’s age. Let them choose their own brush in their favourite colour or with a cartoon character of their preference because it will make them more eager to do it. A tiny amount of a toothpaste is enough. The whole brushing process should last at least 2 or 3 minutes. For the extra fun, take your toothbrush and wash your teeth together.

Control their sweet tooth

Sugar is the main reason why children have dental decay. This doesn’t mean you should cut out sweets from their nutrition completely, but try to limit the sugar intake. Avoid giving them candy between meals, and allow them to drink carbonated drinks or juices only on certain occasions. Keep in mind that water is the best and healthiest refreshment, and you should get your child used to have at least 7 cups per day.

How to keep their teeth healthy when they are a bit older

Around the age of 6, children usually start losing their baby teeth. Since adult teeth can’t be replaced, you must teach your child how to properly take care of them. Once they turn 6, they can finally use regular adult fluoride toothpaste. By the age of 7 or 8, your child will want to brush their teeth all by themselves, but they will still need your supervision and help before they grow older. Also, encourage your children to rinse their mouth after lunch or snacks in order to wash away leftover food.

By following these tips, you can be sure that your child will acquire the best oral care possible.