Dental Care for Kids
One principal responsibility for parents is ensuring that their kid’s overall health is perfect. When making decisions about your toddler’s health and general well-being, do not overlook oral and dental hygiene. Kids from everywhere, Utah included, are prone to dental diseases. Their love for sugary stuff and drinks puts them at higher risks of such diseases.
Teaching oral hygiene practices to your kids will prevent them from contracting dental-related issues. Besides, dental hygiene habits you pick up as a youngster often define your adulthood cleanliness. Here’s what each parent needs to know about oral hygiene:
Dental Diseases
Though children don’t have teeth when they are born, they still are at risk of dental infections. Bacteria and sugary food cause some of these infections. Other dental problems arise due to practices such as thumb sucking.
Poor oral health leads to dental issues such as early gum infection, tooth misalignment, and early childhood dental caries. In Utah, it is estimated that two-thirds of toddlers below the age of 9 have had dental cavities.
The majority of these dental issues can be avoided through optimal dental hygiene. If you’re in Utah and your kid has already contracted the mentioned infections, you should see a children’s dentist. Moreover, a dentist is capable of correcting problems such as tooth misalignment using orthodontic treatment.
When to Begin Oral Care for Kids
It’s always advisable to commence oral hygiene at infancy. Although kids are born with their teeth still hidden below their gums, it shouldn’t deter you from providing proper hygiene. Use a smooth but tidy washcloth to wipe the infant’s gums each time you feed him/her.
As babies get bigger, their teeth also grow. By the age of six months, their teeth start emerging from their gums. Upon reaching the age of three years, they should have developed milk teeth. As they become teens, most of their primary teeth fall out and are replaced by permanent teeth. Parents need to provide distinct oral health care at each stage of their kid’s life.
Tooth brushing and Flossing
It’s a good habit to begin tooth brushing once your child’s primary teeth erupt. For kids of about three years, use only a small portion of fluoride toothpaste for cleaning. The toothbrush you use should be specifically designed for toddlers. It should have a tiny head that perfectly fits children’s mouths. The bristles should be very smooth to prevent discomfort during brushing.
Swallowing fluoride toothpaste should also be discouraged. Teach your kid to rinse and spit after each brushing session. Kids’ tooth brushing should ideally be done twice a day to cover the inner and outer sides of each tooth.
From the age of one year, it’s a good health practice to visit a professional pediatric dentist with your child. They will examine and ensure that your child’s teeth grow normally. The said pediatricians will also offer further advice on proper oral hygiene and even the required diet to strengthen your kids’ teeth. With healthy teeth, your child can look forward to enjoying his/her youth and adulthood.
