Your child loves cake, candies, chocolates, and pop, but hates brushing. We know you’re anxious about your child’s oral health, maybe you’re overwhelmed by all the tips you’ve come across.
We know you want to do the best for your child’s oral health and hygiene. Below, we’ll tell you how to make the process a bit more fun, for both of you.
That said, if you’re still worried, we recommend you consult with an experienced paediatric dentist in Bangalore at one of our clinics.
Why Children’s Dental Hygiene Matters
Good dental health is crucial for children because clean, healthy milk teeth give way to strong permanent ones. Tooth decay and cavities can affect a child’s esteem, their jaw health and make them prone to bigger dental problems in the long-run.
Visiting a paediatric dentist can make things much easier. She can advise you in making brushing and flossing a fun routine for your child. Here are a few tips that can improve your child’s dental health habits.
- Get them what they like.
Let your child choose their toothbrush and toothpaste so that they feel motivated when it comes to brushing. A toothbrush with soft bristles and a smaller head will reduce the risk of gum injuries while brushing.
If you’re not sure about the toothpaste best suited for your child’s dental health, consult an experienced paediatric dentist in Bangalore at one of our clinics.
- Tasty toothpaste with fluoride.
Fluoride-based toothpastes work wonderfully for both children (beginning at the age of 3-4 years) and adults. Regular and careful brushing with toothpaste that contains fluoride is imperative for healthy teeth and gums.
Studies have shown that fluoride can effectively reduce cavities in both children and adults. As it helps harden the enamel, it makes teeth sturdier.
Of course, too much fluoride can adversely impact children’s teeth, which is why a pea-sized amount remains ideal for brushing, by causing tooth discoloration and even damage their health.
In fact, we recommend that you take your child to a dentist for routine check-ups, even if their milk teeth have only begun to grow, because early care can prevent tooth decay and pain.
- Will you be my brushing and flossing partner?
Children tend to copy their parents, so practicing brushing and flossing together, instead of sending your child to the bathroom alone, can become a fun activity.
Brushing together will not only deepen your bond with your child—as you work over their discomfort with brushing, but you can also observe their brushing pattern and gently correct them as needed.
- Prevention is better than cure.
Healthy milk teeth are necessary for a healthy jaw and permanent teeth. By teaching your child to develop good hygiene habits, you can protect them from early tooth decay, tooth loss, implants and teeth bonding.
Dental safety, however, is not restricted to brushing and flossing alone. It involves encouraging your child to wear mouthguards while participating in any sport, be it dodgeball or boxing. A mouthguard is a soft plastic retainer that safeguards the teeth, jaw, and lips from injury. As some of the best children’s dentists in Bangalore, you can visit us for a custom-fitted mouthguard.
- Can we skip the sweet bits?
Paying attention to your child’s diet goes a long way in maintaining their dental health. Most children frequently consume soda, chocolates, and other sugar-high foods. Sugary and starchy foods produce an acid that gradually corrodes tooth enamel and can cause tooth decay, cavities, and gingivitis.
You can give your child dairy products, such as cheese, with sweets as they act as a buffer to the acid and reduce the risk of dental damage. Establishing a good dental routine for your child, such as generously rinsing, brushing, and flossing the mouth after having hard candy, is therefore crucial for oral health.
Unmaking a myth: Baby teeth (don’t) affect permanent teeth
“Many parents believe that cavities in baby teeth don’t matter since they will eventually fall out. That, however, is incorrect because it may have a long-term impact on the health of the permanent teeth,” says a child dentist in Jayamahal at Specialty Dental Clinic, Bangalore.
Most children tend to lose their baby teeth from six to twelve years old. During this time frame, your child will have a mixture of milk and permanent teeth, so regular visits to a paediatric dentist can save them from potential dental problems. At this stage, some children may require extensive orthodontic treatment, such as braces.
Cavities
*According to a report published by the Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), children between 6 to 8 tend to have cavities in their primary teeth. Those above eight years can also experience dental caries on their permanent teeth.
While tooth decay (or dental caries) is a common chronic dental issue among children, care must be taken, in the form of good oral hygiene habits, because it can cause tooth loss.
At Specialty Dental Clinic,our paediatric dentists can create and provide your child with a customized dental routine after analysing their dental health.
When should your child see a dentist?
There’s no particular age at which you should take your child to see a dentist; ideally, even the first milk tooth should be examined by a skilled dentist who’ll make routine check-ups fun for your child. Like adults, kids must visit their dentist at least once in every six months so that any symptoms of severe oral predicaments are treated in time.
Unable to find a reliable child dentist in Jayamahal, Bangalore?
You can pick Specialty Dental Clinic out of the many options you have. Our pediatric dentists are qualified to deal with a wide range of dental health issues in children.
Give us a call to schedule an appointment with the best child dentist in Richmond town (Bangalore) before it’s too late!
