Your child’s teeth are precious. From the moment their first tooth bursts through their gums, it’s time to start a good dental regime that will help their gnashers and gums to be strong and healthy. It’s also important to teach your children about good oral health from an early age so that they continue these habits as they get older and more independent.
Brushing
As soon as the first tooth appears you should start cleaning your child’s teeth with baby and young children dental products. Do this every morning and night so that your child becomes accustomed to the routine as soon as possible.
When your child reaches around seven years of age, you can hand over the reigns. Show them how to brush their teeth properly with gentle circular motions. At this age, they can start to use an adult toothpaste. Each brushing session should last for two minutes.
Try to make brushing as fun as you can. Buy funky toothbrushes, put on music and download dental apps designed to make brushing education and entertaining.
Toothpaste
Using a fluoride toothpaste is important as this assists in the prevention of tooth decay. Before the age of three, you should only use a small smear of paste. After this point, you can increase the amount to pea size.
Checking
Get into the habit of checking your child’s teeth on a regular basis (once a month should be sufficient). Make sure they are doing a good job at brushing and keep an eye out for anything unusual. If you do notice anything out of the ordinary, call your dentist and ask them for advice.
Dental appointments
You should register your child with a good family dentist. Choosing a practice that caters for young children, with a play area, for example, will help your child to see this experience as a positive, rather than a scary one.
Discuss with the practice how often your child will need to attend a check up. As children’s teeth are more active than adults, this is likely to be more often than you are used to. It’s important not to miss these appointments. This could lead to underlying problems becoming worse and may set a bad example to your children.
Diet
Limit the number of sugary and acidic foods that you give to your kids. Sweet treats should only be eaten infrequently and in small quantities. For teeth-friendly snacks offer fresh fruit and sticks of raw veg. Water and milk are far healthier options than fizzy drinks that damage teeth. Fruit juice is highly acidic and so try to stick to one glass a day at meal times.
The tooth fairy
A wobbly tooth can be upsetting, and even more so when it falls out. However, a visit from the tooth fairy will help your children to see this natural change as a positive experience.
Good oral hygiene and care is important for every child. Parents should follow a healthy routine that will protect their teeth now and provide them with the knowledge and understanding of how to care for their teeth as they grow up.
