As adults, taking care of our teeth is simply a habit. It’s part of our routine, and few even think about it. But when you have children, you need to learn about oral health all over again, ensuring that your child has the best dental routine and care appropriate for their age. Taking proper care of your children’s teeth doesn’t only help to maximize their dental wellbeing growing up – it also educates them and helps them get into good dental habits themselves. Good dental care can lead to fewer dental problems throughout their adult life. So, what can you do to take the best care possible of your children’s teeth? Here’s some information that will help to make this journey a success!
Tips For Taking Care of Your Little Ones’ Teeth
Baby Teeth and Tooth Loss
All children start out by growing a set of baby teeth or milk teeth. These will then begin to fall out around six, making way for their adult teeth. It’s good to prepare yourself and your child for this. In terms of order, the first baby teeth to fall out are usually the two bottom front ones (lower central incisors) and the two top front teeth (upper central incisors). Next usually will be the lateral incisors, first molars, canines and second molars. Losing teeth isn’t a painful process. Instead, they will become wobbly and then eventually fall out. Many parents like to engage in the tooth fairy tradition throughout this process.
Dental Appointments
As adults, we know that we should visit the dentist once every six months. But many of us are unsure what to do when it comes to children. Generally, you should take your little one to the dentist around one. Taking them at one will allow the dentist to check their dental progression and get your child used to the setting as they grow up, helping to prevent a fear of the dentist. Preventing fear can make later dental visits, such as a visit to the cosmetic dentist for braces during teenage years, a much more familiar experience and less to worry about.
Dental Care
When your child is young, you will need to clean each tooth for them. As they grow up, they will want to clean their teeth themselves. You can make this a fun experience that they look forward to. Buy a children’s themed toothbrush with their favorite animals or characters. Try child-friendly toothpastes, as these tend to have a less harsh flavor than adult mint-flavored options. You can also teach them how to floss as they grow more capable. To ensure that your child is brushing for the right amount of time, you may want to buy a little timer that goes off after two minutes, letting your little one know that their task is complete.
Little Ones’ Teeth
As you can see, implementing proper dental care into your child’s routine is extremely important, not only for the present. Your child will carry these habits throughout their life.
