Quality Dental Care
Every child needs quality dental care starting when they turn one or six months after the eruption of their first tooth. This way the dentist can see their teeth at the beginning and see what needs to be done – if anything – to help those teeth to come in as they should. Even young children need some assistance with their teeth sometimes.
The dentist will check for any signs of cavities, especially in those hard-to-reach places. They will also look for sores or infections such as oral thrush. They may also look for fluoride levels so that they may be able to add supplements, as well.
When you are looking for a dentist for your child, make sure they do child dental care. You want to be sure that they know what to look for in a child: https://fraservalleypediatricdentistry.ca/. Make sure that you read the reviews of any dentist that you might choose to make sure that you choose one that is reputable.
This article will give you some tips on allowing your children to have quality dental care. It will help you by giving you some ideas on questions to ask your dentist. You can also do more research to find the information you are seeking.
Tips on Quality Dental Care for Children
1. Start Early – Remember that you need to start dental care at a very young age. You want to make sure that your child has healthy teeth. There are many things that a dentist will look at in your child’s mouth.
Some of the things that they will look at are signs for cavities, fluoride levels, and mouth health. There are other things they will look at, as well. Your child is never too young to see a dentist.
2. Brush on a Regular Basis – You can begin to brush you child’s gums before their teeth actually appear. There are tools that are gentle to the gums that you can use. You can also rub them with a gentle cloth.
Once a tooth appears, use a soft bristled brush to brush it. Get your child used to having their teeth brushed so that they can take over when they are old enough. Starting early will begin a lifetime of dental hygiene.
3. Limit Sugary Treats and Soda – Reduce exposure to sugary treats and sodas. Very young children don’t need these anyway and older ones should be very limited. Sugary treats and sodas can lead to decay, and you don’t want to see that.
You can encourage healthier snacks such as fruits, vegetables, and plain water. This will help to start healthier habits for them. You can also model behavior by eating those healthy snacks yourself.
4. Have Regular Dental Visits – Once you begin going to the dentist, make regular appointments so that you keep up to date on the health of your child’s teeth. See more here. By going regularly, you can catch any issues early before they become something big. You want them to be healthy in all ways, and this is just one more you can do that.
5. Fluoride Treatments – As soon as you see the first tooth, begin to apply fluoride treatments. There is a fluoride varnish that can be used safely. This will strengthen teeth and protect against cavities.
Fluoride treatments can be controversial, so you will need to decide on your own if you want this to happen. There are concerns about potential health risks that can include dental fluorosis and the possibility of developmental and neurological issues. Again, there are benefits to this, too, so you will need to decide for yourself if it is something you want to do.
6. Use Sealants – Consider sealant for the molars so that you can provide a barrier to germs and bacteria: https://www.cdc.gov/oral-health/prevention/about-dental-sealants.html. This is another way to prevent cavities and promote dental health. Your dentist will add this to your child’s teeth when they come in for a visit, with your permission, of course.
7. Monitor Pacifier Use and Thumb sucking – These are normal habits during infancy, but they need to be curtailed by the age of four. Prolonged use can affect the alignment of your child’s teeth. You want to be careful and monitor this use as they get older.
8. Protect During Sports – Your kid should wear a mouth guard during sports to protect their mouths. This is especially important in contact sports such as football and soccer. This can prevent injuries to teeth and gums.
9. Teach Them Proper Brushing Techniques – You should demonstrate proper brushing techniques to them. Make sure that you have the proper technique yourself before you teach this. You can brush your teeth together to show how it should be done.
You can also make it fun by having a timer set for two minutes, a two-minute video, or silly songs that last two minutes. Have you guessed that you should brush for two minutes? Making brushing fun will encourage your children to do so on a regular basis – at least two times per day.
10. Model Good Brushing Behavior – Children learn by watching their parents, so provide a good example for them. Brush your teeth twice a day, check for cavities that you might see, and maintain good oral health.
Conclusion
Oral health care is important to children and adults. Make sure that you are a good example and show them how to brush their teeth correctly. Schedule regular dental appointments to protect the teeth.
