As a parent, you want your child to have a bright and healthy smile. Many of the dental practices that we have as adults began during our formative years. Good dental hygiene is clearly a lifelong skill that can help your child maintain their oral health as they grow older. You should teach your child to take proper care of their baby teeth and gums so that they have a nice smile and a healthy mouth.
A good dental care routine can also help their adult teeth erupt properly and avoid misalignment. It may be tricky to set your child up on their dental health journey but remember that good dental habits will keep unwanted oral problems away.
Here are our top 6 professional tips to help you develop the best dental care routine for your child:
1. Get them to brush twice a day
The first step to good oral health and healthy teeth is brushing often and regularly. Ensure that your child brushes two times a day using back and forth and up and down motions. Encourage them to brush their tongue and gums while they are at it because bacteria can harbor there. For children under 6 years old, you should help them brush using a soft-bristled toothbrush or even an infant toothbrush if available. Around ages 6-8, your child can start brushing themselves. They should use fluoride toothpaste and a soft toothbrush for their sensitive teeth and gums.
2. Change their toothbrush regularly
Bacteria tend to grow on toothbrushes that you’ve had for too long. If your child has been using the same brush for a while they will not brush properly. Replace their toothbrush every 3 months for best results. If the bristles begin to fray before this time you’ll want to replace the toothbrush again. Toothbrushes with frayed bristles cannot clean the teeth properly.
3. Get them to floss once a day
Flossing is an important part of oral hygiene because food can harbor in between the teeth and eventually lead to cavities. Get your child to floss once a day preferably before bedtime. Any food particles that are caught between their teeth will be removed during flossing. You can get them traditional floss or other alternatives to try to make the process fun and encourage them to floss each day.
4. Get regular dental cleanings
Schedule regular visits to the dentist for your child, we suggest booking an appointment every 6 months. At this appointment, your child would get a routine cleaning that helps to remove any plaque buildup and prevent serious teeth conditions like cavities. During your pediatric dentistry consultation, we may also take x-rays of your child’s teeth to look for any potential issues and provide proper treatment. Catching any dental issues early can improve the chances of treatment and prevent severe conditions from developing. The dentist will also provide you with tips for improving your child’s oral health.
5. Consider a flouride treatment
Flouride is present in some types of toothpaste and helps to strengthen the tooth enamel. Flouride treatments including using fluoride toothpaste can help prevent tooth decay and cavities. Depending on your child’s needs, our dentist may administer two to four of these treatments for your child every year. Schedule an appointment with our dentist so we can evaluate if they might need to get fluoride treatments.
6. Start dental visits early
According to the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry, children should see the dentist within six months of getting their first tooth or by age one, whichever is earlier. Starting dental visits early can help catch dental conditions while they are still developing and lead to early treatment. This eventually lowers your child’s dental costs by nipping dental issues in the bud and keeping them from worsening.
Visit Annex Dentistry to keep your children’s oral health in check
The key to developing a healthy oral care routine for your child is starting early. You should inculcate useful and healthy habits into them that help their oral health in the long run. Taking the best care possible of your child’s dental needs can be rewarding as it influences the health of their permanent teeth. At Annex Dentistry, we provide pediatric dental services tailored to our young patients. You should speak to us today to develop the best dental care routine for your child. Book an appointment with us to get started.