We know it's not easy to build healthy habits especially when we’re still kids. That's why as parents, it's our duty to make sure our children build these habits early on until puberty. Helping our children with these practices can go a long way to their oral health.
As your pediatric dentist in Columbia, MD, we encourage oral hygiene at the top of the list so you can maintain your child’s teeth to the best of your ability. These tips will be essential to children’s oral health and will ensure their development of strong teeth and healthy hygiene habits.
Top Tips for Healthy Teeth in Kids
Lead by Example
As parents/guardians, it is good to show our children that we also practice the best habits when it comes to keeping healthy teeth. Brushing and flossing regularly yourself sets a good example and shows kids that taking care of their teeth is a lifelong habit.
Start Early with Dental Hygiene
As soon as the first teeth grow, you should start thinking about their oral health. Use a soft damp cloth to clean the infant’s gums after you feed them. Starting these habits early on will go a long way.
Avoid Junk Food, High Sugar Intake, and Carbonated drinks
Limiting soft drinks and junk food can prevent cavities from building up often. You can encourage healthy snack options instead like fruits, cheese, crackers, and yogurt.
No Thumb-sucking and Pacifiers
After the age of 3, your child should not be dependent on pacifiers and thumb-sucking, this can lead to alignment problems in the future. Gradually encourage your child's good habits with positive reinforcement.
Regular Dental Appointments
Scheduling to go to the dentist twice a year allows your child to maintain their clean and healthy gums and teeth. Going twice a year also helps dentists detect potential problems early on.
Build Healthy Habits by Making it Fun and Engaging
Lay out colorful toothbrushes for your kids to pick out on their own and consider using timers to ensure they brush a full 2 minutes! We also encourage you to brush your teeth with them, this helps them connect with the habit long term.
Proper Brushing Technique
Encourage brushing all tooth areas from the front, back, and gums. Make sure they target where your child chews the most and they should practice small circular motions for about 1 minute on each side.
Although there are many other great tips, these 7 will start your child off with good habits to protect their teeth and essentially set the foundation for a lifetime of healthy smiles! Terrific Smiles Pediatric Dentistry aims to educate our patients with the best oral hygiene habits available!
