Taking care of your child’s health is important for their well-being. Healthcare also includes caring for their teeth and gums. Not caring for a child’s teeth can leave them vulnerable to tooth problems, infections, and other diseases.
According to the Australian Government – Department of Health and Aged Care, about 1 in 4 kids aged 5 to 10 have tooth decay, while 1 in 25 people aged 15 and above have lost their teeth. It is apparent from these numbers that dental care needs to be given more importance. However, people living in urban and suburban areas like Oxenford, and Gold Coast, have a higher rate of practicing dental care and having access to dental services than those in rural areas.
Your child’s dental health is of utmost importance, regardless of location. You must start developing good oral hygiene habits from a young age. Here’s a list of things you can do to ensure your kids have healthy teeth.
Visiting the Dentist
According to the Australian Dental Association, children should start seeing dentists for consultation within six months of their first tooth erupting. Seeing a dentist early on will help detect any problem with your kid’s teeth. In addition, knowing beforehand can help prevent these issues through regular consultations.
Visiting at an early age will also help them be comfortable with dental treatment and establish a habit of routine dental check-ups. You can also take your child to a pediatric dentist specializing in children’s oral health from early childhood to teen years.
If you want to keep your kid’s smile healthy and are situated in the suburbs of Oxenford, look up Oxenford dentist for kids and choose the right one based on their patient reviews to visit.
Start Early
You should start taking care of your kid’s oral hygiene even before they have teeth; you should clean their gums regularly. Develop a habit of wiping the baby’s gums after every meal. You can use a warm damp cloth or wet gauze to clean the gums.
Brushing and Flossing
You must begin teaching dental hygiene to your kids at an early age. As soon as they develop teeth, start cleaning them with a soft toothbrush using water. Avoid using the toothpaste this early, as there is a high chance your toddler will swallow it. When they learn to spit out the water while brushing, allow them to use toothpaste.
Teach your children the technique to brush their teeth, and clean their gums and tongue. Also, ensure that your kids brush their teeth under your supervision until they are eight years old, as they are most likely to swallow toothpaste. Make sure that brushing is a part of their daily routine, and they do it twice daily.
Besides this, change their brushes every 3 to 4 months to avoid bacteria build-up in the bristles that can affect their oral hygiene. In addition to brushing, teach your kid how to floss. You can start teaching kids to floss around the age of two to three.
Incorporate the use of Fluoride
Fluoride prevents tooth decay in kids and adults by strengthening the tooth’s enamel layer. It is also added to the water supply tanks to prevent tooth decay. If you find that the drinking water doesn’t have fluoride, you must ask your dentist for oral fluoride supplements.
In addition, fluoride is commonly found in toothpaste and mouthwash. The use of fluoride-based products at an early age reduces cavities. But you must be careful with it, as too much consumption can stain the teeth.
Give them Sugar in Moderation
Cavity or tooth decay permanently damages the surface of teeth; over 40 percent of children develop cavities at some point. Limiting sugar intake in your kids’ diet is the best way to control cavities. Avoid giving them sugary snacks like candy, chocolate, carbonated drinks, fruit juices, or nectars. These foods stimulate bacterial growth and plaque build-up in the mouth, which leads to tooth decay. If they consume a sugary snack, ensure they brush their teeth after eating.
Ensure that your kids’ diet is balanced. Include dairy products and rich in calcium vegetables in their diet. In addition, don’t share a spoon or fork with your kids. The bacteria causing cavities can be transferred through saliva.
Fun Tips to Encourage Dental Care in Kids
Kids will be interested in dental care if you make it fun. You can do these activities to engage them:
- Give your kids a choice; let them choose a toothbrush of their favorite color or cartoon character on the pack. Or give them their favorite flavored toothpaste.
- Read books to them about dental care and watch entertaining videos about dental hygiene.
- To ensure the kids brush their teeth for at least two minutes, play their favorite song for the entire duration.
- Finally, give them rewards for taking care of their oral health.
Make these fun activities a routine for them, and they will make it their habit to prioritize oral hygiene.
Conclusion
Looking after your children’s dental health is crucial because poor oral hygiene can cause tooth decay and lead to several other diseases. Start encouraging dental hygiene from early childhood. It can be difficult at times as children don’t understand the importance of good oral hygiene, but you can try to make things fun for them so they oblige. To keep your kids’ teeth healthy, make sure their dental products include fluoride; they develop the habit of brushing and flossing regularly and give them a less sugary diet.
Going to regular appointments with dentists to keep your kids’ dental health in check is also necessary. According to the Health and Aged Care Department of Australia, 3 out of 10 people avoid or delay dentist visits because of the cost. To promote dental care for kids, the Australian government, in cooperation with the Child Dental Benefits Schedule (CDBS), has made dental services accessible to children so they can develop and maintain good oral health. The program by the government has made it convenient for parents to care for their kids’ oral health. So, don’t delay your kid’s dental care anymore, and start today with these simple tips.
Facebook Comments