Thirteen Tooth Care Tips For Children And Parents
Maintaining good oral health from a young age is vital for many reasons. How the primary teeth and gums are treated can affect the development of the jaw, the formation of adult teeth, and even how children chew, talk, and smile. With a healthy set of teeth and gums, children generally feel more confident and participative in social situations. Moreover, when positive oral practices are established early on, they turn into permanent habits.
However, if you are a new parent, you may find it tough to judge the dental care requirements of your kids. While you may want to help prevent cavities, you may not know the best ways to do so with your young ones. In that case, making an appointment for your little one at Wychwood Dental will set you on the right path to ensure your children’s oral health.
To avoid the need for such drastic measures, the dentists at Wychwood Dental have made a list of thirteen tooth care tips for children and parents from the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry. Keep reading to understand how they help with the development of your children’s teeth.
Tip #1: Avoid giving babies pacifiers.
A pacifier can change the swallow pattern and jaw development in young children. As a result, it is best to avoid them.
Tip #2: Don’t give your kid a bottle in bed or ad-lib breastfeed.
Try avoiding this because as soon as carbohydrates are introduced in the diet, the oral bacteria changes, and even breast milk will cause cavities.
Tip #3: Sit upright when feeding.
As soon as you’re able to, make sure you breast or bottle-feed with the babysitting more upright to prevent ear infections, reflux, and to develop an ideal swallow pattern.
Tip #4: Stop eating after brushing at night.
After nighttime brushing, make sure your kids drink only water. Anything else will cause cavities, as a result, eating and drinking anything after brushing should be avoided.
Tip #5: Don’t give your kids gummy vitamins.
Gummy vitamins have the same amount of sugar as candy. Also, a multivitamin is not recommended for your children by the American Academy of Pediatricians. You can give your children a vitamin D liquid drop if needed, or if you’re still worried about their nutrition, then you can focus on changing their diet.
Tip #6: Use fluoridated toothpaste for kids of all ages.
Not using fluoridated toothpaste for children is an outdated guideline. You (not child) should apply Crest or Colgate toothpaste in a rice kernel amount (for kids under three years or those who don’t spit). Also, make sure to brush your child’s teeth until they can use a fork and knife by themselves.
Tip #7: If you are pregnant consult a dentist before getting your teeth cleaned.
Usually, pregnant women should have their teeth cleaned from their second trimester (onwards) to minimize gum issues from pregnancy hormones. If you are unsure about what you should do, try consulting your dentist.
Tip #8: Take your children to the dentist after they turn a year old.
Most of the worst oral hygiene and tooth decay cases that we see are in kids under three years. These problems can be prevented by visiting the dentist early on, so you have a proper understanding of oral hygiene for your kids.
Tip #9: Do not use teething gels.
When your child is teething, use teething rings instead of teething gels. These gels are toxic and have been known to cause death upon consumption.
Tip #10: Encourage the drinking of tap water.
The tap water in most cities is fluoridated and helps prevent cavities. Bottled water, on the other hand, does not have fluoride. So, it’s better to consume tap water every day.
Tip #11: Avoid the consumption of sugary drinks.
Encourage your children to drink water and plain milk every day. If you want to introduce fresh juice to their diet, allow only one glass per day along with a meal. Do not giving your children pop, Gatorade, and ice tea as they are very acidic and sugary. Also, they can be harmful to children below the age of one month.
Tip #12: Give your children a regular cup as soon as possible.
Change from a feeding bottle to a regular cup or no-spill cup (360 or miracle cup) as soon as you can, as this helps with jaw development.
Tip #13: Incorporate more chewable food into your child’s diet.
More chewing is thought to increase jaw growth and allow space for the teeth to come in. Kids on softer diets tend to have more dental crowding and need braces later on. Also, chewable foods are generally less processed.
For more information on how to care for your children’s teeth, reach out to Wychwood Dental. We are renowned cosmetic dentists and family dentists in Toronto, ON, with over twenty-five years of experience. Our clinic is conveniently located on St. Clair Avenue, just West of Bathurst Street, and our hours are extended during the evenings and on weekends for your convenience.
Our team of experts provides comprehensive general dental care that focuses on restorative and periodontal health. To do our jobs accurately and provide our clients with the best possible results, we use the latest technologies in dentistry. We also ensure our knowledge is up-to-date so we can arm our patients with the correct knowledge to maintain good oral hygiene and strong teeth and gums.
To learn more about our dental services, please click here. To book an appointment with our dental experts, click here to get in touch with us.