Parents have a lot on their plates and sometimes oral hygiene and dental care can fall off the priority list. Ensuring your children grow up knowing how to take care of their teeth and mouth and why it’s important to do so is a big part of setting them up for a lifetime of good health.
This list of dental tips for children was put together by you’re the team at your Burlington dentist office to provide all the information you need to set the foundation for good oral health throughout your child’s lifetime.
- Start early.
Many people are afraid of the dentist and end up skipping their regular dental visits as they grow older. Regular dental visits are one of the most important things a person can do to ensure they have a healthy mouth. Visiting the dentist often not only keeps the mouth clean and the teeth flossed, but it also gives your dentist in North Burlington and team the chance to spot small problems early when they are easy to treat, before they develop into big problems that can require more invasive, expensive treatments.
By introducing your child to regular dental visits at an early age, you teach them that dental visits are perfectly normal and nothing to fear, increasing the likelihood that they grow into adults that continue with regular dental visits throughout their lifetime.
We recommend bringing your child for their first dental visit before their first birthday. This will allow your dentist and team to assess the development of your child’s mouth, gums, and teeth, and be aware of any potential problems before they progress.
- Start at home.
Teaching your children a thorough, consistent, home-based oral hygiene routine will help them keep their mouth and gums clean even before the teeth break through the surface of the gums. By carefully cleaning the gums before the teeth come in, you provide a healthy environment for teeth to develop, while at the same time teaching your children that regular brushing and flossing is simply a part of their everyday self-care routine.
Make brushing fun by giving your children a toothbrush decorated with their favourite television or movie character and play music when they brush. Start flossing with your children as soon as they have more than one tooth.
- Limit sugar.
When feeding your children, try to focus on whole, natural, non-processed foods with a concentration on lean meats, vegetables, cheeses, and low-acidic fruits. Get them used to drinking water instead of sugary drinks like juice or soda. Avoid candy when possible, and when you do allow your child to indulge, be sure to brush or rinse afterwards to prevent the sugars from sticking to the teeth and causing erosion of the natural enamel.
If your child is ready for their first dental appointment or is overdue for a checkup, call our team at Teeth R Us Dental Centre to schedule an appointment today. Our office is located in North Burlington and always welcoming patients of all ages.