Consulting with a pediatric dentist should be part of the early childhood milestones of your toddler. Childhood is an exciting time for the entire family. It is also the time for first dental cavities, which can be a painful and traumatic rite of passage.
Here are guidelines to assist parents in teaching young children how to care for their teeth and gums — habits they will carry with them until they are older.
When teeth erupt
Infants develop the first teeth at about six months of age, and the process continues until the child is about three years old. It starts with the front teeth, and the eruption of the teeth through the gums usually result in irritable behavior — teething blues, as some parents call it.
As soon as your child’s teeth erupt, pediatric dentists in Murray note that you must start thinking about oral care. While they are still too young to brush their teeth, you must educate them about oral hygiene. At the age of two or three, when they can be choosy about the food they eat, be careful not to forget the habit of eating too many sweets. Bacteria thrive in mouths containing leftover bits of sugary foods. When bacteria destroy the tooth enamel of baby teeth, your child will suffer from the discomfort that comes with dental cavities.
Overall guidelines for proper oral hygiene
Diet is an important factor. A well-balanced diet helps children grow and develop, and lower the risk for cavities due to a high-starch diet. There are other habits to observe to minimize the development of dental caries in young children. The American Dental Association recommends the use of fluoride toothpaste, as well as having a fluoridated water supply at home. In terms of basic dental care, dentists recommend tooth brushing at least twice a day and flossing from the age of four onward. You have to floss their teeth fort them until they can do so themselves at around the age of eight.
Parents have to look after many different aspects of their child’s growth and development. Proper oral care should be one of the priorities.
