Keep Your Kids’ Teeth Healthy: Pediatric Dentists Top Tips for Parents

October 22, 2019 - By Bruce Michaelson

 

Your little one is growing fast and before you know it, those baby teeth will pop out into his or her mouth!

 

Teaching good dental habits to your kids early on can result in a healthy smile. By beginning their dental care early, you can keep your child from getting tooth decay. Follow these tips and help keep the teeth of your children free from decay.

 

Start early

 

When the first tooth of your baby comes out, get them used to the concept of brushing because both breast and formula milk contains sugar that can cause decay. Using fluoride toothpaste is crucial, as this helps to prevent and control corrosion and rotting of the tooth.

 

Start dental care the first few days after birth by wiping the gums with a dry to moist gauze pad or washcloth to clean your baby’s mouth. Tooth decay can occur as soon as the teeth develop.

 

Continue to brush your child’s teeth twice a day with a child-sized toothbrush and a pea-sized amount of fluoride toothpaste until you are comfortable with your child being able to brush on his or her own.

 

Make regular visits to your child’s dentist. 

 

Visit the dentist for a check-up as soon as you see your baby’s first tooth. The best pediatric dentists in Dubai will tell you if your child has plaque or cavities, when to expect the next teeth to come in, and how to take better care of the teeth of your baby.

 

Some schools also require kids to have a dental examination before starting school or completing certain levels.

 

Practice Good Feeding Habits

 

If dietary habits are not practiced, even babies can develop tooth decay. It may be easier to put a baby to sleep with a bottle, but it may damage the baby’s teeth. When the juice or milk sugars stay on a baby’s teeth for hours, they will eat away the enamel, causing the bottle mouth condition.

 

Sugary beverages bind to their teeth and feed bacteria that can cause decay. If you have to give a drink to your child to take to bed, make sure that it only contains water. Reduce their consumption of juices as well. Most parents think that juice is a healthy choice for a drink for a day, but it can also result in tooth decay.

 

Take away the pacifier.

 

The pacifier is another soothing feature for the child. Such lifesavers can help ease a baby into sleep. However, they can be just as detrimental to their developing mouths as helpful as they can be in comforting your infant.

 

The use of a pacifier for far too long can lead to deformation of teeth and to major dental problems later in life. This also applies to thumb sucking, which can also affect their mouth’s alignment and roof development. It’s also better to drop the bottle sooner than later and opt for sippy cups instead.

 

Be A Role Model

 

Ultimately, by watching and imitating others, children learn best. Give your kids a great example of how to take care of your teeth by being proactive in brushing, flossing, and frequent dental check-ups yourself.

 

Final Thoughts

 

As the child grows, schedule regular dental check-ups, depending on the advice of your dentist, from once every 3 months to once a year. Avoiding sugary foods, promoting daily brushing and flossing, and consulting with Dubai’s best pediatric dentists can lead to good oral hygiene.

 

Dubai: +971 4 344 0668 Abu Dhabi: +971 2 681 2921
info@americandentalclinic.com