Dental News

From 0-8: How to Take Care of Your Child’s Teeth

March 10, 2017

From 0-8: How to Take Care of Your Child’s Teeth

Many parents wonder when they should start doing something with their child’s oral health. The answer is simple: As soon as you can see a tooth in your child’s mouth, then it’s important to start taking steps to take care of them. Note that a child’s tooth becomes capable of being taken over by decay as soon as you can see it.

Wipe your baby’s teeth after each feeding

Have a soft, damp gauze pad or washcloth ready every time your baby eats. Use it to wipe your child’s teeth and gums each time they eat. One of the most common causes of decay for young children’s tooth is what’s known as baby bottle syndrome. Essentially, when a baby falls asleep with a bottle in their mouth, their teeth are exposed to sugars and acids for long periods of time – and those sugars and acids can lead to both decay and tooth discoloration.

This can also happen when a baby is breastfeeding because mom’s milk also contains sugar. To prevent this, make sure that every time your child eats, you’re wiping down their teeth, or, at the very least, give them a water-filled bottle if they’re going to sleep with the bottle in their mouth.

What your child eats and drinks is important to their overall oral health

Study after study has shown that a child who drinks water that’s treated with fluoride from the time they’re born will have as much as 65% fewer cavities by their teen years – and even then many of them won’t have any decay. If the community you live in doesn’t have fluoridated water, you can use gels, drops, or tablets. You can also have your family dentist provide a fluoride treatment. It’s also a good idea to use a toothpaste and mouthwash that has fluoride.

Food is important too. Remember that calcium is particularly important to help your child develop strong teeth. Some good sources of calcium include yogurt, cheese, and milk. A few studies have suggested that if a child eats cheese at the end of the meal, they will have fewer acids in their mouth that can lead to decay. It’s also wise to avoid any type of snack that has starch or sugar.

Dental care for three year olds

By the time your child is three years old, they should be able to brush their teeth by themselves but only while being supervised by you. Remember that they only need a pea-sized drop of toothpaste. As soon as your child has teeth that touch one another, you should start flossing them.

Dental care for eight year olds

By the time your child is eight years old, they should be able to follow general home dental care advice on their own. Brushing and flossing should be part of their routine. You can make it more fun by letting them pick out their own toothbrush and looking for fun-flavored floss.

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