For any parent, nothing is more important that keeping children healthy and safe. That’s why many parents refer to medical specialists such as pediatricians to address the health needs of their kids and make sure that they grow up to become healthy adults in the future.
It may not seem like an urgent matter for some people, but dental health should not be disregarded. According to the American Dental Association (ADA), baby teeth could grow as early as 6 months of age. Although a child may be too young to understand dental health, the parents must start to instill the right habits when it comes to taking care of teeth.
Here are some tips to help kids start healthy dental habits and give them beautiful and healthy smiles when they grow up:
Start cleaning the gums early on
Even before your child grows teeth, make a plan to clean their first set of teeth. You may start by wiping their toothless gums with a clean and moist washcloth.
Clean their teeth
When you see the teeth of your child already grown out, make a plan to brush their teeth. Use a child-friendly toothbrush with soft bristles to avoid hurting their sensitive gums. Better yet, look for an electric toothbrush for kids designed especially for their use.
Spread a small amount of fluoride toothpaste at roughly the size of a grain of rice. Brush their teeth in the morning and at night, preferably after meals. ADA recommends brushing kids’ teeth for about 2 minutes.
Teach them to brush
When they reach toddler age, you can start giving your children their own toothbrush for them to brush on their own. Maintain a small amount of toothpaste during every brush, and always supervise their brushing. Make sure that you remind them not to swallow the toothpaste or the bubbles in the mouth.
Schedule a regular visit to the dentist
A trip to the dentist should start as soon as you see a tooth growing out of your child’s gums. Sometimes though, parents send their kids to the dentist during when their children are already crying because of the painful process of teething. Whatever the reason for the dentist visit is, make sure that you schedule a trip to the dentist within six months from the appearance of the first tooth.
Starting them early at the dentist chair allows your child to feel relaxed in the presence of the dentist. Try for a morning visit when most kids are well rested and very cooperative. More importantly, never use a dentist appointment as a threat or punishment, or promise a reward when your kid says “yes” to a dentist visit.
While you’re in the dentist’s clinic, you should expect the dentist to check your child’s teeth for cavities or dental injuries, clean the teeth, and recommend the next steps to do.
Give your kids clean utensils and pacifiers
Your children will probably use pacifiers at some point in their life. Make sure that you keep their pacifiers and other utensils clean. Don’t hand them utensils that you use yourself or a pacifier that you “cleaned” with your mouth.
Apart from these dental tips, you may also refer to online resources that discuss dental health for all ages. For starters, you may check out Mouth Healthy, a website by the Americal Dental Association.
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