Happy February from Hollywood Dental. February is National Children’s Dental Health Month which makes it the perfect time for Dr. Rose and Dr. McClendon to review some of the important steps in keeping your child’s smile happy and healthy. Keep reading to discover how you can help your child maintain a smile that will last a lifetime.
Dental care for your child begins in infancy so start brushing ASAP! The sooner the better! Starting at birth, clean your child’s gums with a soft infant toothbrush or cloth and water. Parents should use a tiny smear of fluoride toothpaste to brush baby teeth twice daily as soon as they erupt with a soft, age-appropriate-sized toothbrush. Once children are 3 to 6 years old, then the amount should be increased to a pea-size dollop. Remember that young children do not have the ability to brush their teeth effectively. At this stage of development, you should still perform or supervise your child’s toothbrushing. Ensure your child spits out excess toothpaste and does not swallow.
Creating good habits early in life is key to keeping your child’s smile healthy! Getting your child motivated about their oral hygiene routine can be challenging at times. Try using incentives like prizes from a prize jar as a reward. Keeping your child engaged while they are caring for their teeth can also present challenges. Find a song the child likes and let them brush while listening! This can keep your child engaged all while making brushing more fun. Try letting them have their own uninterrupted turn followed by mom's or dad's turn, this can create a feeling of responsibility for their own oral health and give them a sense of independence.
Wondering what toothbrushes and toothpaste to pick out for your child? We have some helpful tips for you. Always use an age-appropriate toothbrush for your child until the age of 9 or 10. By that age, few primary teeth are left and most teeth are permanent and the child can begin using an adult toothbrush with soft bristles or a power brush. As for toothpaste, any toothpaste with sodium fluoride as the main ingredient is recommended for children. There any many flavors out there and finding one your child likes is crucial to having a good attitude towards brushing.
Another essential step in your child’s dental health routine is providing them a balanced diet full of protein, vegetables, and fruit. A balanced diet creates a neutral pH in the mouth which helps to prevent acid attacks from cavity-causing bacteria. Some low sugar snack option ideas are raw fruit, cheese cubes, nuts, and even raw vegetables. Also reducing sugar and fermentable carbohydrate intake will reduce the food source for these cavity-causing bacteria and thus, help prevent decay.
Skip the fruit juice (which can have a lot of sugar) and make sure your child drinks plenty of water. This year’s theme for National Children’s Dental Health Month is “Water: Nature’s Drink.” We hope you encourage your children to drink more water! It is beneficial for more than just their teeth!
It’s recommended that kids go in for their first oral health checkup when their baby teeth first begin to emerge or by the time their first birthday comes around. Though it may seem early, this visit is essential to ensure your child doesn’t have any signs of gum or tooth decay and that their teeth are erupting and developing properly. Baby teeth can begin emerging as early as six months!
Your child may express some anxiety about their first trip to the dentist so creating a positive atmosphere to associate with the dentist is important. Don’t make the child believe they are being punished for bad behavior or lack of taking care of their teeth. Tell your child that nothing will hurt them at their dental checkup and reiterate the importance of checking the health of their teeth! Here at our office, we use a token reward system. The child is informed there are tokens that can get them prizes and they earn tokens according to their cooperation and behavior during their appointment.
If you have any questions or concerns or want to learn more, our team is always happy to discuss them with you—any time of year! We can’t wait to see you and your family in our office again soon. We look forward to seeing you!
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