Nothing warms and brightens parents’ hearts other than their children’s smiles. But your children’s infectious grins and pearly whites can be marred by dental problems such as cavities and gum disease. These oral health problems can lead to poor nutrition, toothache, infection, and other illnesses that may affect their growth and daily activities.
Cavities or tooth decay is caused by bacteria and, most commonly, sweet, sugary, citrusy, and starchy food and drinks. To protect your children’s radiant smiles and prevent them from missing out on the best things that childhood can offer, consider the following suggestions:
Manage Your Children’s Diet
Your children’s fondness for sweet, sugary, citrusy, and starchy food and beverages is the main culprit for tooth decay. These food and drinks harm the teeth, as they contain acid that can tear down the enamel. The enamel serves as the teeth’s protective barrier from bacteria proliferation and plaque buildup. Thus, it is good to limit the intake of these kinds of food and drinks. If they partake of these food and drinks, make sure that they drink water or, much better, brush their teeth to rinse the sugar away.
Stop Them from Developing Harmful Habits
Do your children like biting their toys, pencils, and other hard objects? Do they use their teeth to open snacks wrapped in plastic? Do they like to snack on hard crackers, nuts, etc.? Do they frequently bite their nails or suck their fingers? If you catch them doing these things, it is time to put a stop to these harmful habits. Not only will these activities injure them; these will also cause damage, break, or chip their teeth. Moreover, putting their filthy hands and dirty objects in their mouths can cause bacteria and germ buildup, which can cause cavities and bad breath.
Brush, Brush, Brush
Of course, nothing beats brushing as the best way to wash away sugar and starch buildup on the teeth and prevent the growth of bacteria in the mouth. Teach your children proper brushing techniques and assist them until they are able to brush their teeth on their own. Use soft-bristled toothbrushes for kids and the right amount of fluoride toothpaste. It is good to help the children be able to brush their teeth for two minutes twice daily and rinse and spit well.
Take Them to the Dentist Regularly
Complete dental care for all ages consists of regular visits to the dentist. To ensure the well-being of your children, take them to a trusted pediatric dentist in Eagle Mountain, who can check on the condition of their teeth and gums. The pediatric dentist will make sure that your children’s teeth are developing properly, spot possible oral health problems, and suggest measures on how you can better take care of your kids’ oral health. They can also recommend and perform interventions or treatment to advance cases of dental problems, such as digital X-rays, interceptive orthodontics, and preventive and sedation dentistry. Experts advise that parents take their children to the dentist every six months as soon as they reach the age of one.
As parents, you should not take for granted the importance of good oral hygiene for your children. Remember that adequate food intake and proper hygiene are key to good health. A healthy mouth and a strong set of white teeth are essential to proper nutrition.