As guardians and parents, it is your responsibility to ensure that your child has good oral health. You have to ensure that your child starts dental care before they become teenagers. This will establish a plan for your child’s oral health and set up a lifetime healthy smile.
WHY CARE FOR PRIMARY TEETH?
Primary teeth are the first set of teeth for a child, which need to be properly maintained. Parents considering future orthodontic options often wonder how much is Invisalign when planning long-term dental care. Early dental care can lead to improving your child’s overall oral health in the future. Primary teeth will fall, but they are the foundation of the teeth you’ll have in the future.
There are 10 steps to be taken to promote early dental health, which are reproduced below;
- Establish a Routine: Introduce the concept of brushing to them as soon as their teeth grow. You can start by gently brushing their teeth with toothpaste. You must clean their teeth twice a day for better results.
- Teaching brushing techniques: Parents are always the first teachers in anyone’s life. You have to teach your child to properly brush their teeth. Once your child is mature, teach them the different types of brushing, which will clean their teeth properly. Brushing properly will be a foundation for maintaining basic oral hygiene.
- Floss: You can start flossing your child’s teeth when they have grown, either by using flossers or child-friendly floss.
- Lead by example: As mentioned above, parents are the first teachers in anyone’s life. This will make them a role model for their children. If you are following good oral hygiene, then your kids might also inherit from you.
- Promote healthy snacks: You help your kids differentiate between healthy and unhealthy food for their oral health. Enlighten them on the drawbacks of eating unhealthy snacks.
- Avoid prolonged bottle or sippy cup use: You must not let your child fall asleep with a sipping cup containing any sugar liquids. This causes tooth decay in your kid’s mouth and creates further problems.
- Wean off thumb sucking: Educate your child about the risks associated with sucking their thumbs while sleeping. It is common for most children to fall asleep by sucking their thumbs.
- Schedule regular dental check-ups: You make a visit to a pediatric dentist at regular intervals. The dentist will regularly monitor your child’s oral health and suggest any further treatment required.
- Arrange fluoride treatments: Fluoride treatments strengthen your teeth and eliminate cavities. You consult your pediatric dentist about the requirement of fluoride treatment for your child.
- Wear protective gear for sports: You ensure that your child wears a mouthguard while playing any sport, which might lead to dental injury.
CONCLUSION
Early dental care will help the child grow without having any problems related to oral health. As a concerned guardian, you ensure that your child follows all the necessary steps that improve overall oral health.