Can Preventative Care Promise Your Child a Winning Smile?
Children should be taught proper oral hygiene at an early age. Did you know that The Department of Health actually recommends practicing smile-healthy habits in infancy before those tiny teeth even show up? Don’t worry if your a little late to the game, start now and give your children a brighter future, beginning with a healthy smile!
Preventative Care at Home
Two Minutes - Twice a Day
If your child is old enough to say cheese and smile for the camera, they’re old enough to learn how to take care of that cheesy grin! Take the extra time to teach your child proper brushing technique.
- Help your child create a routine of brushing their teeth two minutes - twice a day.
- Brush their teeth with an ADA approved fluoride toothpaste.
- Clean between your child's teeth every day.
Limit Sugar
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration recommends that everyone age 3 and older should consume no more than 12.5 tsp. each day of added sugar. (The same as one can of soda.) When choosing a snack, keep an eye on added sugar (like corn syrup or white sugar). Naturally occurring sugars, like those found in milk and fruit, are less worrisome. Limit sugary beverages and snacks, especially sticky snacks. While things like fruit snacks seem like a more healthy option, they are problematic as they stick to the teeth for longer than other sweet snacks prolonging the exposure to sugar.
Get Cheesy
Cheese is one of the healthiest snacks for your child’s teeth. In addition to providing large amounts of much-needed calcium, cheese also does its part to fight cavities. Cheddar, Swiss, mozzarella, and Monterey jack all stimulate the body’s salivary glands to clear the mouth of debris and protect teeth from acids that weaken them. This means cheese disrupts the development of cavities, especially when eaten as a snack or at the end of a meal. Calcium and phosphorus found in cheese reduce or prevent decreases in the plaque’s ph level and work to remineralize the enamel of your child’s teeth.
Preventative Care from Your Dentist
Regular Checkups
Preventative care from your dentist is an essential contributor to oral health and can help lessen the need for extensive dental intervention in the future. Seeing your dentist regularly will ensure all the important questions get asked:
- How are your child’s teeth lining up?
- Are there any early indications of “bite issues”?
- Are all of the baby teeth finding their way to the tooth fairy as they should?
- Is it time to add in-office cleaning to your child’s regimen?
- Are there any signs of cavities or other oral diseases?
Dental Sealants
Dental sealants are a no-brainer when it comes to being proactive in your child’s oral care. These sealants are thin coatings painted on the chewing surfaces of the teeth, forming a protective shield that blocks out germs and food, preventing cavities (tooth decay) for many years. Once applied, sealants protect against 80% of cavities for 2 years and continue to protect against 50% of cavities for up to 4 years.
Are you looking for a family dentistry that will partner with you to develop your child’s precious smile? That’s what we’re here for!
