Dental Care For Children: How to Look After Your Child’s Teeth

According to recent research, 43% of kids who were over two years old had cavities. This is why it’s important to focus on dental care for children.

But what steps do you take to ensure that your kids don’t get cavities?

Keep reading to learn about all the key things you should do when taking care of kids’ teeth.

Start Early

One of the most important dental tips for kids is to start taking care of their teeth as early as possible. If you teach them good, healthy habits now, they’ll have better health for the rest of their lives.

You should start a cleaning routine as soon as they start showing their baby teeth. Clean their teeth twice a day so that they get used to the idea of a toothbrush.

When they’re younger, it might be easier to wrap a cloth around your finger and brush your teeth that way. When their teeth are done growing, you can get them a baby toothbrush.

You’ll also want to make sure that you take them to the dentist as soon as possible. Bring them to your dental appointments just so that they can be familiar with the dentist’s office. This could help to reduce anxiety around the dentist.

It will let them get used to the smells, sounds, and sights in a weird and new environment. This will also make sure that they don’t put off their own appointments when they’re older due to anxiety around the dentist.

Get a Toothbrush and Toothpaste

When your children’s teeth have grown enough, you’ll need to get a toothbrush and the best toothpaste for children.

When looking for a toothbrush, find one that has a small head and is soft. If you want your child to be excited about brushing their teeth, you can even let them choose the design or color of the toothbrush.

When choosing toothpaste, keep in mind that a little bit will go a long way. If your child is under six years old, choose a toothpaste that has low fluoride in it.

You’ll also want to be mindful of the flavor. If the child doesn’t like the taste, they’re less likely to want to brush their teeth.

Teach them to use a pea-size amount, and show them how to brush each tooth carefully. You’ll also have to teach them how to spit out the toothpaste and not swallow it.

Have a Healthy Diet

Another way to keep your children’s teeth healthy is to have a healthy diet. Every time your child eats something with sugar, their teeth are attacked for about an hour.

If your child is eating a sugary snack or drinking something with sugar, their teeth are constantly being attacked and more susceptible to cavities.

Make sure that you limit the sugary snacks and drinks before bedtime. Your saliva reduces when you’re asleep, and the sugar will wear down the enamel on your teeth.

Letting your child have some sugar throughout the day is okay, but make sure that you limit it. If they do have some sugary treats during the day, make sure that you follow them up with good brushing habits that night and the following morning.

Use Fluoride

Fluoride is important for your child’s teeth, but it’s important to not overuse it. Fluoride can help to reduce cavities in your baby’s teeth, but it’ll also help keep their adult teeth safe.

Fluoride will strengthen the enamel, which hardens the tooth and protects it against cavities. Most children will get their fluoride from drinking water because most cities add it to the tap water.

If your water doesn’t have fluoride or you’re using a filter that removes it, take your child to the dentist and ask them if they should get an oral fluoride supplement.

If you don’t get a supplement, most dentists will use some type of fluoride varnish when cleaning your dentist’s teeth. There is also a little bit of fluoride in most kinds of toothpaste as well.

However, if you use too much fluoride, it could stain your children’s teeth.

Go to a Dentist

Is tooth whitening safe? Why won’t my children brush their teeth? How do I know if my child has a cavity?

These are all questions that a dentist can help you answer. Most parents won’t bring their young child to the dentist, but the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry recommends that you take your child to a dentist around the time they turn one.

This will give the dentist a chance to catch any problems early. Make sure that you choose a pediatric dentist who has a lot of experience in treating children.

You should also call your dentist as soon as possible if your child has any of these problems:

• Tooth pain
• Mouth infection
• Lost a permanent tooth

If you notice these issues, take your child to the dentist as soon as possible.

Discover More About Dental Care for Children

These are only a few things you can do for dental care for children, but you should also ask their dentist what they would recommend.

Ask a dentist before doing any type of treatment, especially if you’re not sure if it’s safe for your child. However, we know that caring for a child and being a new parent can be quite stressful and confusing.

If you need more guidance and advice, explore our website to find even more articles just like this one!