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As a parent, they say that you should pick your battles. Not everything is worth a fight. However, one thing that is always worth the battle is the fight for the health of your child’s teeth. These baby teeth need just as much care as yours do. With regular trips to your dentist in Irving, flossing, and brushing, you can avoid serious issues and premature decay. Plus, by establishing oral hygiene habits from an early age, your children are more likely to take care of their mouths throughout their lives, lessening their chances of painful complications. - Brush and floss. Even though your child’s teeth will eventually fall out to make way for permanent ones, it’s still important to care for baby teeth. Brushing and flossing is one of the best ways to ensure that teeth remain healthy and strong. Twice a day, brush your child’s teeth with fluoridated toothpaste for at least two minutes. Be advised that you will need to be the one to brush your child’s teeth until he is at least 5 years old, or can tie his own shoe. Until this time, children lack the dexterity to reach the back of their teeth and clean them the right way. After brushing, don’t forget to floss! With all of the starchy foods that kids tend to eat, flossing will get all of that food unstuck from between the teeth.
- Start at an early age. The earlier you begin caring for your child’s teeth, the more the training will stick. Even when your child is an infant, there are ways that you can clean her mouth. Simply take a warm damp washcloth and wipe down gums. Do this until your child is old enough to use tooth paste and a small brush. Then, be sure that the bristles of the brush aren’t too stiff. This will prevent bleeding gums. Teaching your children about oral hygiene from an early age will ensure that they maintain good habits throughout life.
- Watch what they eat. Kids love anything sugary and starchy. Chips, crackers, fruit snacks, and candy are probably all staples in your children’s snack diet. However, these are some of the most destructive foods that can be eaten. Starchy foods stick to the grooves of the teeth and eventually become sugar. The sugar eats away at the surface of the tooth and can eventually lead to decay. Try to limit the amount of sugar and starch that your kids consume. Instead, swap out sweets for fruits and veggies. This is a heart-healthy idea that will also save your child from painful tooth problems.
- Fill their cup with water. Water is the best thing for your child to be drinking. It helps to rinse the mouth of food left on the teeth and keeps children hydrated. If your child likes to drink milk, have it available only at meal times. Children should only drink juice once a day, and soda should be avoided, except for special occasions.
- Visit the dentist regularly. As soon as your child’s teeth begin popping through the gums, it’s time to visit the dentist. By introducing your child to the dentist early on, it can lessen fear of the visits. Plus, it can help to diagnose any oral problems your child might have from an early age.
Your child’s teeth might not be here to stay, but that’s no reason to ignore them. By cleaning them regularly, visiting your dentist in Irving, and monitoring what your child eats, you kid will remain healthy and strong until it’s time for permanent chompers to push their way through.
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