Having strong and healthy teeth begins with good habits developed from an early age. Here’s how to help your kids to develop good oral health habits today. The early stages of your child’s dental journey are the most important. In fact, most children will have developed their full set of baby teeth by the time they’ve reached the age of three, and despite the fact that this set will eventually be replaced by permanent adult teeth, it still plays a core part of their dental development. That’s why instilling good oral and dental health habits in these initial years are so important, as they can prevent major dental problems down the line.
Here are a few tips you can start implementing to give your kids a healthy oral future:
When your child is teething
Teething is a difficult and painful stage for babies aged six months and over, but one that all must go through. Chilled teething rings will provide the most amount of relief, while potential choking hazards and gimmicks like amber necklaces are best avoided. As for pain relief, standard paracetamol (as recommended by your doctor) is the medication least likely to have an adverse reaction.
When your child gets their first tooth
It’s recommended that your child have their first dental visit when they reach one-year-of-age, at which point they might have a tooth or two visible already. Up until a dentist signs off on them beginning the brushing process, it’s recommended you gently wipe their baby teeth with a clean, warm, and damp cloth on a daily basis. Visiting your child’s dentist at this stage is critical, as even minor problems here could lead to issues in tooth growth at a later stage, or lead to them developing gap and spacing problems when they become older.
When your child starts developing more teeth
Once your first dentist visit is completed, you’ll have a good idea of your child’s oral health and whether everything is developing as they should. From this stage on, you can start adding low fluoride toothpaste, use any dentist-recommended toothbrush, and encourage your child to brush their teeth twice a day. Once their teeth start touching, they can start flossing – but be sure to start out very gently!
With trusted advice from your family dentist and making oral care a regular part of your child’s daily routine, you’re setting them up for a lifetime of healthy smiles and less chance of decay, cavities and discomfort!
If you’re looking for an expert in children and family dentistry, get in contact with Hawthorn Road Family Dental Clinic today or request an appointment online.
