When your child’s baby teeth start to erupt, you might worry about providing them with the proper dental care to keep their teeth healthy, white, and free of cavities. But daily tooth brushing is only one aspect of providing children with adequate dental care. Many parents believe that since baby teeth are going to be gone anyway, cavities in them don’t matter. But that’s not true. Dental decay in infant’s teeth can harm permanent teeth and cause dental issues in the future. Here are the top 5 secrets to healthier teeth for young children.
Secret 1: Children Under One Should Not Drink Fruit Juice
One of the top most essential from the 5 secrets to healthier teeth for young children is that no fruit juice should be provided to infants under one year old due to dental decay. Fruit juice consumption in excess can result in weight gain and dental damage. Additionally, it is advised against giving juice to children before bedtime or in bottles or readily portable, covered cups that allow them to easily consume juice throughout the day. Did you realize that fruit juice contains the same amount of sugar as many sugar-filled sodas? Acid is produced as a result of bacteria in the mouth feeding on sugar, which can erode the surface of teeth. Serving nutritious fresh fruit and other healthy snacks in place of juice until the child reaches the age of one can help reduce the growth of bacteria.
Secret 2: Teach Your Children to Brush Their Teeth Properly
Parents must always teach their kids to brush their teeth properly to maintain good dental health. Infants and young children should use a very soft toothbrush and toothpaste made of gel. As kids get older, you can motivate them to maintain good oral hygiene by providing them with attractive items that make brushing more enjoyable, such as toothpaste and toothbrushes with cartoon characters on them. Show your child the right technique for brushing along the gumline with small, circular motions, and be sure to promote good dental hygiene by having them brush and floss twice daily. You can choose a toothbrush that is suitable for your child because there are brushes made to satisfy the various needs of children of all ages. Regarding the usage of the amount of toothpaste, you can begin using fluoride toothpaste, which helps prevent cavities, as early as age 3. Use only a pea-sized amount. Try a different flavor of toothpaste if your kid doesn’t like the taste. Even though they are normally still too young to learn to rinse and spit at this age, try to teach your child not to consume it. Too much toothpaste containing fluoride can cause white or brown stains on your child’s adult teeth.
Secret 3: Use Natural Sweeteners
It has been proved that xylitol is a great way to combat the bacteria that can lead to dental disease. Natural sugar called xylitol reduces tooth decay and gum disease by making bacteria slippery rather than sticky. Bacteria typically produce acid from sugar, which helps them stick to your teeth and to one another. Additionally, the acid dissolves tooth enamel, leading to cavities. Because bacteria cannot produce acid from xylitol, tooth decay is avoided and the bacteria just slide off the teeth. Try some sugar-free sweetened gum or mints. This artificial sweetener is used in many modern foods and confectionery. You might begin by brushing your teeth with xylitol toothpaste in the morning, then rinse your mouth, chewing gum after meals, and finally mints or sweets after snacks. With xylitol toothpaste and mouth rinse, you might end the day the same way you began it.
Secret 4: Dry Tooth Brushing
It has been proven that using fluoride toothpaste to brush your child’s teeth is essential for their dental health. However, did you know that in addition to wet brushing, dry brushing your child’s teeth can significantly improve their oral health? Dentists recommend dry tooth brushing for a number of reasons, including the ability to see the area of the teeth you’ve brushed without being hindered by foaming toothpaste, the ability to see where areas of the gum may be reddened or irritated by brushing, the ease with which it is possible to determine whether your child’s gums are bleeding after brushing, the ability to reduce the amount of plaque buildup on teeth, and the ability to massage the gums for better oral health. Although dry tooth brushing has several advantages for oral health, toothpaste does include bacterial-fighting qualities that assist prevent decay and cavities.
Secret 5: Regular Dental Checkups
As brushing and flossing can only remove so much bacteria, it is usual to visit the dentist twice a year. Bacterial growth eventually develops resistance and sticks to surfaces on and between teeth even after rigorous brushing and flossing. When this happens, it’s time to bring in the big guns and visit your dentist, who can physically remove this using specialized instruments, keeping your teeth healthy and clear. The pediatrician will examine your child’s teeth and gums as part of routine dental screenings to make sure they are healthy.
CONCLUSION
Healthy teeth for your kids are just around the corner if you use the above mentioned 5 secrets to healthier teeth for young children. There is no better time than the present to take control of your children’s dental health and make sure that their teeth will remain strong and healthy for years to come.
The Sky Dental Clinic in Vijayawada has a dedicated pediatric medical specialty section to offer your child the best possible pain-free dental care.