Healthy child’s teeth are important to your child’s overall teeth. Keeping Child teeth clean is important, but once the permanent teeth are ready to emerge you need to make cleaning them a priority, as these teeth will last rest of your child’s life. Starting regular dental cleanings and examinations once the teeth start growing will keep the child’s teeth healthy and cavity-free.
Care you need to take for your child’s teeth
Some of the ways to keep your child’s teeth healthy
Brush twice a day
For baby teeth, wipe the gums with a wet cloth. Children below 3 years should use the amount of toothpaste should be the size of the grain of the rice. For children above 3 years, use the pea-sized amount of toothpaste. Choose a small-sized, soft-bristled toothbrush. Soak the brush in warm water before you brush to soften the bristles. And replace the brush for every 3-4 months. Help your child brush their teeth at least until 2 minutes.
Floss every day for a healthy child’s teeth
Regular flossing can remove the food particles and plaque that build-up between the teeth where the toothbrush can not reach. Flossing every day also prevents the cavities from forming in between the teeth. Brushing and flossing at least twice a day can keep your child’s teeth healthy.
Help your child to maintain the diet
Avoid foods and drinks that harm your child’s teeth. Because taking good care of your teeth is not only important for oral health but also the child’s overall health. Some drinks and fruit juices contain high sugar and acid. Also, limit the sugary foods like chewy candy and also chips, bread and pasta. Sugar and acid can make the enamel of the teeth weak and there are greater chances of tooth decay and cavities.
Make regular visits to the dentist
Visit your dentist as soon as you see the primary teeth emerging to your child. However, dentists usually recommend regular dental cleanings and examinations once adult teeth start growing in order to remain them healthy and cavity-free. Once after the examination, your dentist can tell you if your child has a plaque or cavities and how to take care of your child’s teeth at home. Talk to your dentist to find out when you can come for the next visit.
Talk to the dentist about sealants
A sealant is a special coating that goes into the roots of your child’s back teeth. These are applied to the occlusal surfaces of the teeth to go through surface pits and form a physical barrier on the tooth surface. A sealant protects you against the cavities. If your dentist feels that your child is at higher risk of cavities, he may suggest you of having sealants on your child’s back teeth.
Ask your dentist about fluoride treatment
Fluoride is found in water, kinds of toothpaste and several foods and it protects teeth from cavities. Dentists may also recommend fluoride varnish to your child to provide extra cavity protection. However, it is painless. You dentist will paint fluoride treatment on the top and sides of your child’s teeth with a small brush to prevent the cavities.
Is fluoride safe for my child?
Of course, Fluoride is safe for children. Having fluoride treatment at an early age can provide extra protection for tooth development. However, fluoride is found in many types of toothpaste, mouthwashes and even foods. Children who start using products with fluoride at an early age will have lesser chances of getting cavities than those who don’t use fluoride.
How to prevent your child’s teeth from getting cavities?
Some ways to maintain your child’s teeth healthy
- Make a limit on sugary foods, candy, and snacks your child eats. Because sugar and sticky foods give birth to bacteria which leads to cavities.
- Brush your child’s teeth after giving them medicine. Because medicines like cough syrups contain sugar. This, in turn, makes mouth to produce acids. These acids eat away the top layer of the tooth.
- Avoid giving sugary drinks like regular soda. Even soda contains a large amount of sugar that produce cavities.
- Suggest a variety of healthy foods like milk, yoghurt and broccoli which contains calcium.
- Regular dental visits are essential when your child’s first tooth erupts. Getting regular dental check-ups can also prevent dental problems.
This article is intended to promote understanding of and knowledge about general oral health topics. It is not intended to be a substitute for professional advice, diagnosis or treatment. Always seek the advice of your dentist at a dental hospital in Vijayawada qualified healthcare provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition or treatment