The effort that parents put into their child’s oral health from birth — and the habits you instill in your child as she grows up — will go a long way to ensuring a lifetime of good oral health. (That effort and those habits may even pay off in some financial savings due to a reduced need for dental treatment in the bargain!)
Dentists recommend that infants see a children’s dentist in West Edmonton as soon as their first baby tooth emerges or by their first birthday, whatever comes first. A children’s dentist near you will examine your child’s jaw, gums and emerging bite to monitor their oral development. Your dentist will also recommend best practices for getting your daughter off to a good and healthy start in life. That’s where the homework comes in. What are some of the best practices for caring for your child’s teeth at a young age?
From birth
Don’t underestimate the importance of caring for an infant’s baby teeth once they begin to appear. Those teeth define the channels through which her permanent teeth — the ones she hopes will last her lifetime — come in, straight or otherwise. Here are four tips for caring for an infant’s gums and teeth:
- Until the first tooth appears, clean your daughter’s mouth and gums with water and a soft cloth after each feeding.
- Once the first tooth appears, brush her teeth twice daily with a soft toothbrush and a bit of fluoride-free toothpaste.
- Don’t let her take a bottle of milk or juice to bed to protect them from tooth decay.
- To protect baby teeth from growing crooked, don’t let her suck a pacifier beyond the age of two.
Toddlers and preschoolers
Toddlers can struggle while learning to brush their teeth, but don’t let those struggles stand in the way of keeping your child’s teeth clean and healthy and gradually learning good oral hygiene habits. Here are five tips for caring for a toddler’s teeth:
- Teach children to brush their teeth using a circular motion and let them watch you do it.
- When upper and lower teeth touch, teach your child to floss and let them watch you.
- While she’s learning to brush and floss independently, help her get the job done.
- Use toothbrushes and toothpaste designed for your child’s specific age group.
- Make sure your child goes to a dental checkup every six months.
Five-year-olds and up
By the time your child is five years old, the goal is to have established some good oral hygiene habits, keeping in mind that once she starts going to school, she’ll be outside your direct supervision much of the time. By this time, oral hygiene habits should also include eating healthy snacks. At this age, dental care priorities continue to evolve. Here’s what to keep in mind:
- Once permanent molars emerge — age five and up — begin using fluoridated toothpaste.
- Once those permanent molars appear, ask a children’s dentist near you to apply dental sealants to protect those molars from tooth decay and cavities.
- Encourage your child to drink lots of water, especially water with fluoride. Staying hydrated generally will help your child resist tooth decay. Fluoride will strengthen the child’s teeth to help with that goal.
- As your child grows up, she’ll begin to participate in more and more activities, including activities that invite the risk of physical contact and injury — things like gymnastics, hockey and dance. To protect your child from oral injuries at every stage, ask your child’s West Edmonton dentist to provide an appropriately customized mouth guard.
Suppose you don’t have a pediatric dentist to partner with you and your family during your child’s growth and oral development, contact a children’s dentist near you. The staff there will be happy to meet and get to know your child.