1. Starting Early!
You can never start too early with teaching your children how to take care of their teeth! Even before their 1st tooth pops out at around 6 months you can start cleaning their gums and giving them something to chew on when they start teething.
And a BIG NO- don’t EVER put your baby down with a bottle of anything but water –not even milk! Babies (and anyone for that matter) have a much higher risk for decay if their teeth are constantly in contact with sugary liquids. Bacteria feeds on the sugar allowing it to release acids that then go attack the teeth causing rampant decay and destroying a child's teeth!
At around age 3 they should have all of their 20 baby teeth! Even though they will lose them all by the time they are 12, they still play a huge role! Baby teeth help children chew, speak normally, and also hold space in the jaws for the adult teeth to come in later.
Starting good oral health habits early can help protect their teeth (and your pocketbook) for decades to come!
2. Learn the Right Way to Brush and Floss
Everyone knows they should brush and floss their teeth everyday, but very few know the correct way to do it.
It really does make a world of difference if your kids can master these 2 habits! Go ahead and help your child practice so they can seriously impress their dentist at their next visit!
Remember, you will need to help your child brush and floss their teeth until they’re about 6 or 7 years old, and then switch to supervising and offering support until they are around the age of 10 or 11.
Ask your dentist and they would be delighted to teach you and your child the correct way to brush and floss
3. Correcting Those Cavities Quickly
Sometimes parents are tempted to do nothing when their child has a cavity since they will be losing their teeth down the road, but untreated tooth decay can lead to other problems:
o It can lead to pain, making it hard to eat or sleep properly.
o The cavity could cause the tooth to abscess (a pus filled sack on the gums.)
o Infection can sometimes harm thepermanent teeth that are still developing.
o And in some cases, it may causeserious or even life-threatening infections.
Tooth decay can be prevented with good oral care. It is much simpler and more affordable to prevent tooth decay than to repair a decayed tooth.
4. No More Sucking Thumbs and Pacifiers
It’s so cute, especially when they are little, but as time goes on a child’s sucking habits can cause problems with tooth alignment and the proper growth of their mouth.
Pacifiers should not be used after age two, and finger or thumb sucking should end by age four! So if your child is still holding on to any of those habits it’s time to put your foot down (just not on their thumb, that would be mean!)
Ideas for Stopping Thumb Sucking:
o Praise them whenever you catch themnot sucking their thumb!
o Sometimes they suck their thumb whenthey feel insecure, so help them through any anxiety and help comfort them.
o When your child avoids sucking theirthumb during a difficult time, go ahead and Reward them!
o Bandage the thumb or put a sock over the hand at night.
o If all else fails, discuss with your dentist about using a mouth appliance or a bitter-tasting liquid to coat the thumb or thumbnail.
5. Eat Dessert First!
Nothing is wrong with dessert, just eat it first.
As far as teeth go, WHAT we eat isn’t nearly as important as WHEN & HOW often we eat it.
For instance, when we eat a piece of cake during dinner, the other food and water we are consuming helps to rinse most of the food particles away. This helps the mouth from developing the acid that decays teeth.
On the other hand, if you sip soda and snack on cake and cookies all afternoon,your teeth are being constantly bombarded with sugar bugs that are very acidic. The plaque will keep these harmful acids against the teeth, and the longer they are there, the higher the risk you have for tooth decay.
That’s why it’s critical you help teach your child to limit between-meal snacking,especially on cookies, candy, and other sweet or sticky foods.
Save the cake and cookies for mealtime, when the mouth makes more saliva to help rinse it away!
6. Fluoride – It Helps Make the Teeth Healthy & Strong
Dentists conclude that you have less cavities if they have received proper amounts of fluoride.
When a child’s teeth are still forming, fluoride works by making tooth enamel more resistant to the acid that causes tooth decay. Fluoride also helps repair areas where the acid attacks have already begun.
Children can get added protection from fluoride from multiple sources:
o Toothpaste
o Mouth Rinses (Act)
o Flouride Treatments in the DentalOffice
o Flouridated Tap Water
7. Protect Young Teeth With Sealants
Once those permanent molars start coming in (usually around the age of 6), do them a huge favor and get them sealed!
The chewing surfaces of the back teeth have deep pits and grooves that are hard to clean; even the toothbrush bristles are to fit inside and thoroughly clean them. too big
That’swhy you should never blame your child if they get cavities in these grooves. It doesn’t matter how well they are brushing or flossing, nothing can effectively clean these areas– that’s why sealants are so important.
A sealant is a material that helps fill the grooves of the teeth so it can help keep plaque and acid away from causing cavities. Sealing a tooth is like painting your nails – it’s fast, painless, does the job, and even looks pretty.
8. Prevent Dental Injuries – Use a Guard!
One way to keep the teeth in the mouth (where they belong), is to get a properly fitted mouth guard and make sure your child wears it during sports activities.
Mouth guard’s help to cushion the impact that may otherwise cause broken teeth, jaw injuries,or cuts to the lip, tongue, or face.
They are highly recommended when playing contact sports, such as boxing, football, basketball and hockey. However, even in non-contact sports like gymnastics or skateboarding, mouth guards may help prevent dental injuries!
9. Make Going to the Dentist Exciting (Not Scary!)
Don’t wait to take your child to the dentist until they are in pain or a dental emergency happens – everyone hates the dentist enough, so don’t make it even worse.
Actually, going to the dentist can be a lot of fun and a great experience.
Regular dental visits are essential to keeping a healthy smile. During the dental visit, your dentist will check your child’s mouth for tooth decay and growth patterns that may pose a problem in the future.
By receiving regular cleanings, fluoride treatments, and applying sealants, it can save you money and reduce the time you spend hanging out with your dentist – even though I’m sure it’s fun.
10. Know How to Handle Dental Emergencies
Knowing how to handle a dental emergency can mean the difference between saving and losing your child’s tooth. As soon as parents see blood and missing teeth they switch to freak-out mode, so take a look at some of these tips so you can remain calm even during a dental emergency.
There are actually only a couple of true dental emergencies, one of the primary reasons being a Knocked-Out-Tooth
Baby Tooth – If something happens to any of your child’s primary teeth, or “baby teeth,” you should take your child to the dentist as soon as you can. If a tooth is completely out, do not try to insert it back in the socket. Although it is normal for children to lose primary teeth, an accident that damages a primary tooth could also harm the permanent “adult” tooth underneath.
Adult Tooth – A baby tooth should not be implanted back in the mouth, but a permanent tooth should. Hold the tooth by the crown, and if it is dirty, rinse the root with water. Do not scrub the tooth or remove any attached bits of tissue. If possible, gently insert and hold the tooth in its socket with a clean wash cloth or gauze. If this isn’t possible, or if your child cannot safely hold the tooth in their mouth, put the tooth in a container with milk, saliva or water. Take your child to the dentist as quickly as you can (within about an hour if possible). Don’t forget to bring the tooth and any tooth pieces you can find!
The only other true dental emergencies you need to seek attention for immediately is if you suspect a broken jaw, or if there is bleeding in the mouth that won’t stop. Besides that, most other dental issues can most likely wait until your dentist is in the office to go get it checked out!