Dental Care for Children - The Care They Need

As a parent, you have a major role to play in ensuring that your child’s tooth remains healthy and clean. Because prevention starts at home, we have listed the best practices and dental care tips to keep the smile on your little one’s face.

A number of parents are not sure about the age when they should start taking care of their little one’s teeth. Little do they know that children dental care actually begins even before young one’s first tooth appears. The best means to maintain dental hygiene among toddlers is to run a damp wash cloth over their gums daily. This will keep away harmful bacteria. Once the teeth are visible, infant toothbrushes with a small quantity of toothpaste, just a smear can be used as well. Once they cross age 2, parents can have their kids brush teeth with a pea-sized amount of toothpaste till the age 5.
Dental Care Tips for Your Child
1. At-home oral hygiene: There are a number of factors that can cause tooth decay in toddlers and young ones. Implementing at-home oral hygiene practices goes a long way in protecting teeth of young ones. Brushing with a fluoridated toothpaste, flossing, limiting intake of sugary foods and drinks are some of the practices that can help combat tooth decay.
2. Thumb suckers, stop! It has been proven that continuous thumb sucking could be a significant cause of dental problems, especially leading to the top row of teeth moving forward and requiring braces for correction.
3. Brush at Bedtime: The earlier children realize that its important to brush before they hit the bed, the quicker it becomes a part of their daily routine. Parents can choose to set a good example and even turn this into a family routine so you can supervise and support your child at the early stages of brushing at bedtime.
4. Visiting a Dentist: According to the American Academy of Paediatric Dentistry (AAPD) you should visit the dentist with your child shortly after the first tooth appears. It is recommended that you take your child at least twice a year for routine check-ups and frequently if you notice any problems with their teeth. Try to remove any negative opinion of visiting a dentist and make an appointment for family dentistry as and when required.
5. Flossing: The right time to start flossing your child’s teeth is when two teeth touch each other. Till they develop dexterity to floss independently, it is advisable that you help them learn how to floss.
Your child’s diet also contributes to their dental health. Ensure that their diet consists of a generous helping of milk, nuts, and meat as these foods help restore two important minerals, calcium and phosphorus. Encourage them to clear loose food particles from teeth after meals and avoid junk food mainly because oral bacteria feed on carbohydrates and sugary foods.