Maintaining oral health is important for people of all ages. Especially when we talk about kids, healthy oral practices build habits as they grow older and help them to keep their smiles healthy and confident. Sometimes, it is challenging to train the young ones to take care of their teeth and gums. Nevertheless, if you follow certain tips and tricks, you can encourage them to follow your steps. Oral health maintenance is as important as managing overall health. Hence, dentists insist upon forming good oral hygiene habits for the young ones. If your child has a healthy oral hygiene habit from a young age, many dental problems are avoided.
February is National Children’s Dental Health Month (NCDHM). It is a great opportunity to promote the advantages of good oral health among children. To help you maintain your child’s good oral health, we are uncovering useful tips with this blog.
Review this article to find the top tips to maintain good oral health for kids.
Start oral hygiene habits early
Cleaning your kid’s teeth and gums is as important as yours. If you want them to maintain good oral health, encourage them to follow oral hygiene habits ASAP. You should even start wiping your infant’s gums and newly erupted teeth after each feeding with a water-soaked gauze pad or damp washcloth. Additionally, changing the toothbrush every three to four months is advisable.
Gentle brushing method
Once your baby’s teeth come in, start brushing them gently with a small, soft-bristled toothbrush. Do not use more than a thin smear of fluoridated toothpaste. And, as soon as the first teeth erupt, schedule a dental visit.
Guide your children for best practices
When your child turns three, begin teaching them proper brushing techniques with no more than three minutes and a pea-sized amount of fluoridated toothpaste. You should show them the right brushing techniques and watch them while they follow the same practices. Ideally, brushing the teeth is recommended before breakfast and after the last meat at night.
Avoid sugary food/drinks
Children are fond of eating sugary food and drinks. The sugar promotes the growth of bacteria in the mouth and causes other dental problems. A frequent sugary snack increases the chances of tooth decay. Limit the sugar intake for your children and offer them healthy snacking options. Encourage children to consume healthy food, especially calcium-rich food that strengthens the teeth.
Preventive treatments
Preventive measures are always a better option; therefore, opt for certain measures to avoid kids’ dental problems. Consider fluoride supplements for children to strengthen tooth enamel and help protect it from decay. Sealants are another useful option, as these coatings are placed on the back teeth to help preserve them from decay. Besides, as an option to filling cavities, the use of silver diamine fluoride has surfaced as an alternative to help stop cavities from worsening, particularly among children with a history of tooth decay.
Regular dental checkup
Last but not least, a regular dental checkup is essential even from a very young age. This not only forms a good habit but also helps in finding underlying oral health problems. And, the sooner the better it is to treat the issue. Make sure you encourage your child to visit the dentist on a regular basis. Also, make sure you schedule the appointment at the office where dentistry for children is well taken care of under expert guidance.
In addition, if you still do not prefer to go out and visit the dentist amid COVID-19, look for teleconsultation. These days, due to the pandemic most dentists offer telephonic or video consultation for educational and guidance preferences. If your child does not have major dental issues, you can always ask your dentist to guide you virtually.
No matter how young your child is, the earlier you start taking care of oral health, it will be beneficial in the long run. The American Dental Association is recommending forming good oral hygiene practices among children so that they become a habit. And, children can avoid major dental problems. Teach them proper brushing techniques and flossing. Offer them a healthy diet, and limit sugar intake. More importantly, do not skip routine checkups. Even if you do not see any dental issues, go for a dental visit regularly.
Overall, children should be taught good oral hygiene habits to maintain their oral health and prevent underlying issues beforehand. Most of the time, parents do not pay close attention to their children’s dental health (because they feel that the baby teeth are going to be replaced later on). But this should not be the case since you want to prevent future dental problems. In fact, professionals who are associated with dentistry for children strongly recommend the proper care of oral health from a very young age.
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