As a parent, it’s your job to make sure you’re helping your children take care of their teeth and gums. If you want to learn more about helping your child maintain good oral hygiene through dental care, here are some tips.
Schedule Dentist Appointments
Taking your child to the dentist is one of the best things you can do to promote good oral health. According to What to Expect, children should have their first dentist appointment within six months of their first tooth growing in or when they turn one year old. Generally speaking, you should schedule dental care appointments every six months.
Help With Brushing
When your children are still very young, it’s best if you brush their teeth for them. It takes a while for children to learn how to brush their teeth properly, so it’s up to you to make sure you’re doing a thorough job of brushing your child’s teeth twice a day.
Encourage Brushing
Once your children get a little older and learn how to brush on their own, encourage them to brush twice a day. Brushing twice a day helps prevent cavities and other oral hygiene issues, which means there will be less dental work to do, and your child will have a lower risk of dental problems.
Avoid Problem Foods
Foods that are especially sugary or acidic can cause damage to the enamel and lead to cavities. There’s nothing wrong with giving your kids a sweet treat every now and then, but try to avoid doing so or go light on sugar when you can. Opting for water or fruit over juice or candy can help promote better dental health.
Try Flossers
Your child should also floss twice a day to maintain good oral hygiene, but flossing can be difficult for some children. If your child is having a tough time learning to use floss, try getting flossers with a handle to make flossing a little easier.
Helping your kids maintain good oral hygiene is all about keeping up with their dental care, which includes brushing and flossing twice a day and visiting the dentist twice a year. If you want to make sure your kids have healthy teeth and gums, call to schedule a cleaning today at Tory Hill Dental.