Just like most things in life, good dental care begins when we are young and our teeth are growing. Parents and children both need to practice good dental hygiene to ensure a lifetime of great smiles. When we are young, every part of our body grows out before we are older. Should the health of our teeth be one of those parts that fall behind, all of our body’s functions, from eating to speaking to walking, are negatively affected. Great smiles are a necessary investment that keeps us enjoying our food and allowing us to enjoy life.
infant dental care tips
Tooth decay is the primary cause of tooth loss in infants and kids. Parents can do their part to prevent it by wiping their infant’s gums with a damp cloth after every feeding. They should avoid putting the infant to sleep with a bottle because this can also produce the bacteria that cause tooth decay.
As soon as the first tooth appears, it should be cleaned with a wet, soft-bristled brush. The very small amount of milk that is in the bottle can cause the baby to swallow it and ingest the sugar, which can have major consequences on the development of the first set of teeth. The one that has had a disease or infection should be taken care of as soon as possible. The health of children is crucial so make sure that you are taking good care of them.
How you can help your child:
If you feel any of the above signs or symptoms of tooth decay in your child, report it to your child’s dentist as soon as possible. This early intervention can help prevent the occurrence of tooth decay, which can help prevent the unchecked costs of dental care.
Oral care starts at home and these tips can help you to prevent tooth decay and tooth loss:
Your Child’s Diet:
It’s imperative that your child’s diet consists of the right amount of calcium. The calcium in the diet helps develop strong teeth and bones.
It is important that your child’s diet consists of a variety of nutritious foods from all of the main food groups, including grains, dairy, fruits, and vegetables. By doing so, your child is getting the required amount of calcium that is needed to keep the teeth and bones healthy.
The recommended amount of sugar in a child’s diet is not nearly as many people may think. Most types of candy, sweet cookies, and syrups are considered low-sugar foods, and can actually lead to tooth decay.
Visit your dentist regularly:
A child should be taken to the dentist by his parents as soon as the first tooth appears. For a child’s first visit to the dentist, a thorough examination of the mouth is made. Signs of tooth decay, if detected, are addressed, and any work done to prevent decay is undertaken. This is done so that children will start a long-term perspective of dental hygiene. Regular visits to the dentist should be made every 6 to 12 months.
Start your child at a young age:
Evenly you should expose your children to good dental hygiene from the moment they have their first tooth. You should not take them to a dentist unless they ask you to do so or you see that they have already had the first visit.
Teach your child how to brush their teeth:
You can do this by Firstly brushing your children’s teeth with a soft toothbrush and a bit of toothpaste, and then take them to the dentist. Explain to them that the dentist is a doctor who takes care of their teeth. They will look forward to the visit and say that the doctor is nice”.
You can also start to introduce them to taking care of their teeth at a young age by brushing your teeth with them. This will only be a short time before they understand how to brush their teeth properly on their own. You can even brush your teeth with water. This is a great way to introduce your children to dental hygiene for the first time.
Teach your children about eating healthy:
Apart from the regular times that they are supposed to brush their teeth, they also need to be taught about healthy eating habits. Even a small amount of milk can help prevent childhood tooth decay as it reduces the amount of sugar that is found in their mouth. They should be given healthy snacks and lots of water should be included in their diet or else they can face dental hygiene problems.
You can also do sports therapy to prevent childhood tooth decay. You can start off by providing them with healthy snacks like appropriately priced fruits and vegetables. You can also start off by asking them to brush their teeth after every meal or at least twice a day to reduce the amount of acid in the mouth. By following such habits you can lower the chances of them developing dental problems like decay and cavities.