Healthy teeth hold immense significance in a child’s life, as flawed teeth can negatively affect their overall health. A strong oral hygiene regimen helps build up good habits for oral care, while poor oral hygiene leads to infections and other various dental issues. Therefore, it is quite essential to ensure that your child brushes his/her teeth regularly. Parents need to make it fun for kids to encourage them to form this habit.
Here are some tips to make dental care fun for your children:
- Allow your kids to have a brush of their choice. Let them choose whatever color they like.
- Along with toothbrushes, let your kids choose their toothpaste as per their liking.
- Brush and floss together. Kids mimic what their parents do. Show your kids some excellent brushing techniques and help them clean their teeth properly.
- Read and buy them books related to dental hygiene.
- Playing songs while brushing makes the process a lot more fun and exciting. That way, you can entice your kids into brushing for the whole two minutes while keeping track of time.
- Reward your kids with a golden star or something they love for taking care of their oral health on a regular basis.
- Plan a fun activity like going to a park or for ice cream as an incentive for your kids to visit the dentist.
When should kids begin to take care of their teeth?
Children are supposed to brush their teeth as soon as they have their first tooth. It is advised that before your infant even starts teething, you should run a disinfected damp cloth on your baby’s gums to kill any harmful germs or bacteria.
When your baby grows their teeth, try brushing them with an infant toothbrush that has soft bristles and a small head with a very minimal amount of toothpaste with fluoride in it. Fluoride can be dangerous, so make sure your kid does not swallow it.
Ways to take care of your teeth
Diet
What you consume also plays a major role in your oral health. Kids who have a lot of sugary foods in their diet are putting their teeth at risk. As parents, you need to make sure that your child does not exceed the recommended daily amount of sugar. Sugary snacks and drinks should be avoided between meals. Keep in mind that children need to brush their teeth after consuming sugar.
Mouth safety
Security is another large piece of dental cleanliness. On the off chance that your youngster plays sports, they should wear a mouth guard. This is a delicate, plastic retainer that covers the teeth and the lips as well. It shields your youngster’s mouth from any kind of wound during play. However, it is advisable to consult with your dental specialist before purchasing one so that you use the right kind.
Prevent cavities
This is the most common infection in children. Cavities are holes that form in our teeth. Cavities are also called tooth decay or dental caries. They tend to form because of frequent snacking, declined oral hygiene, and sipping sugary drinks. Their symptoms include:
- Toothache, spontaneous pain, or pain without any apparent cause
- Tooth sensitivity
- Black or brown spots on the surface of your teeth
- Severe pain while eating something sweet or cold.
This can be prevented by following all the applicable rules of dental hygiene. Both children and adults are advised to take special care measures to prevent cavities.
When should children visit the dentist?
Experts suggest that visits to the dentist should be your priority when your child turns one. This helps with the diagnosis of early problems and complications. Taking your kid to a dentist who has experience in handling children makes visits to the dentist more fun and less intimidating. This way, you also provide a sense of enthusiasm about dental health in your children.
It is advisable to make an appointment and visit a professional children’s dentist right away if your kid is experiencing a toothache or if a tooth needs to be extracted. It is also important to visit the dentist regularly for cleaning to ensure that your child’s pearly whites grow strong and healthy.
Although it is often overlooked, taking care of oral hygiene is a very important aspect of a child’s development. If parents don’t take the necessary steps to ensure that their children’s teeth are healthy, their kids might suffer from a slew of oral issues later on. Therefore, always make sure that everyone in your family brushes their teeth regularly, especially your children.
