As a parent, you want the best for your child, and maintaining their dental health is one of them, but what to do is still one of the biggest questions. As per the National Oral Health Care Program, nearly 30% of the children are suffering from misaligned teeth, resulting in jaw-related problems.
So, even after ensuring the dental health of our child, where are we lagging? Let’s understand where we are behind in ensuring their kid’s dental hygiene.
- As your child doesn’t know the importance of dental hygiene that much, as they do it as one of their tasks. If they are inconsistent with supervision, kids start to take it casually.
- Allowing your kids to eat snacks, chocolates, or cold drinks whenever they want is not love. You are unintentionally allowing them to destroy their teeth.
- Letting your child eat or drink just before bed and not brushing their teeth. This habit is slowly building a layer of bacteria and plaque on their teeth.
- Entertaining their bad habits of thumb-sucking or tongue-thrusting.
Firstly, it is crucial to comprehend the necessity of early dental care. Primary teeth of children play a pivotal role in their oral development, and the beginning of oral hygiene early can protect them from issues like tooth decay or gum disease. Think of it as laying a foundation for overall development. Because if they eat well, they become well.
Oral hygiene does have significant overall health outcomes, including the prevention of tooth decay, reduction of dental anxiety, and prevention of other dental issues. It also impacts psychological well-being, including boosting self-esteem and confidence. So, let’s know the tips for a lifetime of a healthy smile for our children.
Tips For a Healthy Smile and Teeth
1. Early Beginning-
In the beginning, you can gently clean the gums and teeth of your child with a damp cotton cloth. Even lactating mothers need to ensure this, as the breast milk still accumulates on their gums. As your child grows, introduce brushing and encourage them to engage in good oral health habits.
2. Choose Fluoride-based Toothpaste-
For children under 2, only a smear of fluoride (less than a grain of rice) is enough. Studies have shown the positive results of this type of toothpaste, resulting in protection from tooth decay and helping to strengthen tooth enamel. It remineralizes the teeth and prevents teeth from early signs of tooth enamel.
Note: Always supervise your child while brushing. Educate them on the process of proper cleaning so that they don’t brush harshly, leading to gum recession and enamel wear.
3. Do Visit The Dentist-
There is a common misconception that you should visit the dentist only when needed. You should schedule an appointment with the dentist. Even, The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry recommends parents visit a dentist within six months of their child’s first tooth appearance. This will help you to know about the practices that can harm their teeth and the ones that can protect their teeth.
4. Encourage Healthy Habits-
For healthy teeth, vitamins and minerals play an important role. Incorporate a healthy diet by adding fruits and vegetables like carrots, leafy greens, apples, strawberries, and many more. This helps to neutralize the acids from the teeth and protect enamel from being damaged.
Even if your child loves to eat snacks or sugary food items, make sure to limit the food intake. Moderate consumption of food reduces the chances of dental problems.
5. Educate Your Child-
Kids often learn by observing their parents, so be an example for your child. Indulge them in a healthy oral hygiene routine and make sure to interact with them to let them know the importance. But make sure to provide them with a soft-bristle, kid-friendly brush. By that time, you can add flossing to their daily routine, but make sure to do it safely.
6. You Can Use Sealants As Well-
Back teeth are more obstinate, and food particles tend to get stuck in them, making them vulnerable to tooth decay or build-up of bacteria. Dental sealants can help to protect teeth from these stuck food particles and deep crevices. Not only that, it also safeguards molars from cavities.
Healthy Smile of Your Child
Investing in your child’s dental health is the parent’s responsibility, as it stages the long-term of a healthy and radiating smile that is full of confidence. At Cradle Children Hospital, the dedicated pediatricians provide exceptional solutions and guides to ensure that every child can have a healthy and happy smile.
In conclusion, it can be said that the habits influence dental health. It is not just about having the ability to eat food; it is about overall health. You must have heard that our mouth is the door to disease. So, if your kid’s mouth is not healthy, how will they become healthy?
So, start practicing good habits from today, and for more information, you can contact Cradle Children Hospital.
