As a parent, you want your children to have healthy teeth and a bright smile.
According to the government dentist at Teeth.org.au, the first step to good dental care is prevention. Start brushing your child’s teeth at an early age so they get used to the routine and learn how to do it themselves. Use a soft-bristle toothbrush or a water-pik to clean your child’s mouth and gums. Brushing with fluoride toothpaste is also recommended once they are older than 2 years old.
Avoid sugary snacks and drinks. Sugary snacks and drinks cause tooth decay by sticking to teeth, which leads to cavities and gum disease over time. Snack on fruit instead!
- Limit snacking between meals
Snacks should only be eaten when needed — not as part of every meal or snack time in between meals throughout the day. This helps prevent cavities from forming between meals when saliva flow isn’t at its best, which can happen if you eat too frequently throughout the day. The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry recommends that parents take their children for their first dental visit by age 1 or 2 years old and then every six months until age 3 or 4 years old. Once kids are old enough for regular checkups every year, make sure they keep up those appointments so you can catch any problems early on.
Talk about brushing at an early age. Make brushing fun by letting them pick out a toothbrush with their favorite cartoon character on it or find some other way to make brushing fun for them. Get them excited about brushing by rewarding them with something after each time they brush — whether it’s getting to watch TV longer or play video games longer — so they’ll want to brush again during the day!
- Visit the Dentist Regularly
Dental visits should be scheduled twice a year for children ages 3-6 and once a year for children ages 7-10. If you have any questions about the best time frame for your child, please contact your dentist.
- Clean Your Child’s Teeth Properly
Brush their teeth twice daily using a fluoride toothpaste and a soft-bristled brush or other device designed to clean teeth effectively. You should also supervise the amount of time they spend playing with their mouth open so that food and drink doesn’t get caught between their teeth.
- Clean Out Your Child’s Mouth After Meals
Dinner is usually the biggest meal of the day, so it’s important to take advantage of this time to remove food particles from your child’s mouth. Make sure they rinse with water after each meal or snack. Be sure not to use a lot of force when cleaning out their mouths so as not to damage developing teeth or gums.
- Choose a Pediatric Dentist
Your child needs someone who understands what they need, and who can help them feel comfortable during their appointments. A pediatric dentist will have experience with children and know how best to care for them. They’ll also be able to tell you if there are any issues that might affect your child’s teeth in the future.
- Teach Them Good Oral Hygiene Habits
Good oral hygiene is important for everyone, but especially so for children. Brush their teeth twice a day with fluoride toothpaste and floss once a day (or more if needed). Make sure they visit their dentist regularly — at least twice a year for routine checkups — so that any problems can be caught early on and treated easily.
