As a parent you want your child to be healthy as possible, a part of this is to ensure they also have good oral hygiene. Too many times, people do not realize that their good oral health is just as important as the rest of your body. Not caring for your teeth, gums, and mouth can lead to other health issues, thus the reason to get your kids started off correctly on good oral hygiene.
Keeping your child’s teeth, gums, and mouth healthy actually begins before they have one tooth. After your baby eats, you should use a soft warm cloth and run over their gums which will ensure that harmful bacteria does not begin to build up on the gums.
Once the first tooth appears, you will need to brush the tooth with a soft bristle toothbrush. You may not believe this, but even babies can develop cavities if their teeth are not taken care of properly. If milk or baby food stays on the teeth for a few hours, it can begin to eat away at the enamel on even just one tooth which can bring on a cavity. Once your baby has more than one tooth, it becomes important to floss to ensure that you remove all the food and debris that can lead to tooth decay. You should floss your baby’s teeth at least once day and brush after each meal to ensure good oral hygiene. Do not use toothpaste on your child until they reach around age 2 so they can spit it out.
Visit a Pediatric Dentist
You should visit a pediatric dentist as soon as the first tooth cuts through the gum. These dentists are skilled at working with children and understand all the issues that might arise. They can help you know how to properly care for your baby’s teeth and check to ensure all teeth are coming in correctly and aid in preventing dental problems that might arise. If the dentist notices that your child has an under or overbite, they will be able to refer to you an orthodontist before the problem is out of control. By visiting the dentist while your child is still young, it will be a regular part of their lives and they will not fear going to the dentist. Too many times, parents do not take their child to the dentist until a problem arises. Often the child is scared and then must go through treatment which can be terrifying. This will put the dentist and fear together which is certainly not the thing you desire to happen if you want your child to have good oral hygiene practices.
Finding the right dentist
If you have talked with family and friends and are still not sure which pediatric dentist is best for your child. You can easily find dentists in your area and read reviews from parents. This may give you all the answers you need to help your child have healthy teeth and gums.