The three ways to care for your child’s oral health begin at home. There are a multitude of ways that parents can protect their children’s teeth, including teaching children good oral hygiene habits. Lovett Dental Humble is here to help parents care for their children’s dental needs.
Brushing Your Child’s Teeth
Start wiping your baby’s gums with a soft cloth before he or she gets her first tooth. Do this twice a day to wipe away sugars from baby formula and to clean the mouth of bacteria.
Do you wonder how a baby or toddler gets bacteria and sugar built up inside the mouth? One mistake that some parents make is to let the child fall asleep with a bottle in their mouth. Parents should not let a child fall asleep with a bottle for the following reasons:
- This allows sugar and bacteria to build up in the mouth
- The child could be at risk of developing cavities
- Other oral health issues could develop
Although wiping a baby’s gums with a soft cloth helps to keep cavities from forming, brushing the baby’s teeth at the right time is a critical part of caring for your child’s oral health.
Buy your child their first toothbrush when they get their first tooth. A primary mistake that parents sometimes make is thinking that children do not need to brush their teeth until they get all of their primary teeth. This is a myth. Doing this potentially allows cavities to start forming or for other oral health issues to develop over a short period of time.
Gently brush the baby’s teeth with a soft child’s toothbrush and plain water twice a day.
Going to the Dentist Early and Often
Do not wait until just before your child begins school to take her to the dentist for the first time. If you wait that long, your child could already have cavities or oral health issues. Do not think that nothing is wrong with your child’s teeth just because you cannot see a cavity. According to many oral health experts, many children already have at least one cavity by the time that they start kindergarten.
A dentist can detect a cavity before the appearance of visible signs of decay. Make an appointment with a pediatric dentist for your child when they get their first tooth. The dentist examines the child’s mouth, jaw, and teeth for any abnormalities or other issues. The professional team at Lovett Dental Humble provides pediatric oral health care for the unique needs of children from infancy through adolescence, including applying sealants.
Caring for Your Older Children’s Teeth
Teaching your child good oral health habits lasts a lifetime. Children that start out practicing good oral health habits early in life are more likely to continue those good oral health habits as they get older. This includes the rebellious teenagers that really do secretly pay attention to their parents.
Teenagers are old enough to learn about plaque, gum disease, and other issues that affect overall oral health. Discuss the effects of diet on oral health with your teenagers. Let them know the importance of coming to you if they experience dental pain, mouth irritation, or other oral health issues.
Contact Lovett Dental Humble Today
Reach out to Lovett Dental Humble to learn more about caring for your child’s pediatric oral health care needs. Failure to do so potentially affects your child’s pediatric oral health and their overall health throughout their lifetime. Contact us today at 281-441-9000 and talk to one of our experienced team members to make an appointment and to learn more about your children’s oral health care needs.
