How to Keep Your Child’s Teeth Healthy

Most parents have a difficult time trying to judge how much dental care their children need. Does my child need braces? How old and when should I schedule my child’s first Dentist appointment? Here are answers to some of the most common questions about taking care of your kid’s teeth.

When should dental care start?

The most efficient dental care begins even before a baby’s first tooth appears. Many parents don’t realize but teeth actually begin to form in the second trimester of a pregnancy. At birth the baby already has 20 primary teeth, hidden inside the jaw.

After the baby is done feeding, run a damp washcloth over your baby’s gums to help prevent buildup of damaging bacteria. Eventually when your child has a few teeth showing, you can brush them with a child’s toothbrush or use gauze.

 

Help my Baby is teething!

Teething is inevitable and will happen to all babies. However, some experience more discomfort over others. The discomfort often occurs in the mouth and can cause your baby to become agitated and even irritable.  A trick we tell parents, to help ease the pain, is to rub a baby’s gums with a clean finger or wet soft washcloth. Don’t forget to give your baby regular oral cleanings after each meal. This will help establish good dental habits early on.

 

What role does nutrition play in healthy dental development?

It is a natural balance between healthy eating habits that will lead to healthy teeth. Many snacks that children eat that are processed and have added sugar can lead to the formation of cavities. Rather than picking the packaged crackers, cookies and cakes for a snack, choose nutritious foods such as fresh vegetables, low-fat yogurt and or low-fat cheese.

 

When should my child start flossing?

We get this question a lot, and a general rule is to start flossing your child’s teeth when the two teeth touch each other. As they learn good dental care hygiene from you, you can help them learn to floss. We recommend that you stay with them and floss together, in order to stress the importance of it. Make sure to use floss that doesn’t hurt their teeth and is comfortable on their gums.

 

What should I do if my child doesn’t want to brush their teeth?

Getting your child excited about brushing their truth isn’t always easy. But showing them the benefits and why we brush our teeth can go a long way.  You can get creative with how you show your child the importance of brushing teeth with an experiment. It can show your child how important brushing is in order to keep teeth strong, healthy and protected from acid attack.