3 Oral Healthcare Tips for Children
When you teach your child oral healthcare at a young age, it is an investment that will help your child for the rest of his or her life. The easiest way to help your child understand the importance of dental hygiene is to set a good example by brushing your teeth twice a day, flossing regularly and using mouthwash after brushing your teeth every time.
Parents can make dental hygiene a fun experience by brushing their teeth along with their child. Here are 3 oral healthcare tips for children that will help you every step of the way.
Oral Hygiene Begins At Infancy
Not many parents understand how important it is for them to begin a proper dental hygiene routine right from the start to ensure healthy gums and teeth. Just couple of days after birth, parents should start cleaning their baby’s gums gently using a wet washcloth or gauze pad.
This is an important step, which should not be ignored since tooth decay can occur as soon as the baby’s first teeth begin to appear. Usually, the baby’s first teeth push through the gums at around six months of age. The first teeth that grow are usually the front four teeth. However, there is no reason to be alarmed since there are times when children do not have their first teeth until they are 12 – 14 months old.
Dental Care for Toddlers
Toddlers love sweet things and this is exactly why parents should be concerned about their child’s dental hygiene more than ever. Do not let your child snack on excessively sugary foods since they produce plaque acid that ultimately leads to tooth decay. Children under three years of age are unable to brush their teeth themselves so parents should brush their teeth twice a day.
As soon as the first set of teeth appears, start using good fluoride toothpaste but the amount used should not be more than a grain of rice. When your child has two teeth that touch, it is time to start flossing now for maximum protection from tooth decay and bacteria.
The Perfect Smile
A proper dental healthcare regimen right from the stage of infancy will ensure that your child’s perfect smile remains intact. Children from 3 – 6 years of age are able to brush their teeth on their own but adult supervision is still important to make sure the kids brush their teeth well for good three minutes.
A pea-sized amount of fluoride toothpaste is enough for young children to prevent them from swallowing any excess toothpaste when brushing. Teach your child how to brush with upwards and downwards motion. Slowly and gradually, educate your child on how to floss to ensure that plaque from between the teeth and around the gum-line is removed thoroughly.
Young children usually develop dental problems that can be nipped in the bud as soon as they occur. Parents should take their child to a dentist every six months for a full dental checkup.
These are some dental tips for children that parents must follow rigorously to maintain thorough dental hygiene. Your feedback is valuable to us so leave your comment below and let us know what you think.
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