Keeping Your Child’s Smile Healthy With Good Oral Hygiene
Some parents may wonder why they should look after their child’s teeth if their baby teeth will soon drop out regardless. Whilst it’s not entirely false, this line of thought is dangerous. Dental complications that exist when one is young have the tendency to bleed into adulthood. For instance, a child that practises bad oral hygiene may grow crooked teeth in place of their baby teeth. Such complications are hard to rectify even if they’ve adopted healthy oral hygiene practices in their later years, more so if they don’t. Of course, there are solutions to help rectify such problems, such as metal braces for misaligned teeth, but it’s ultimately better to nip it in the bud.
Thus, one must instil healthy oral habits when young to avoid any unnecessary complications in the future. Moreover, having a good set of teeth will allow your child to articulate themselves properly and carry a positive and healthy self-image, two attributes that will boost their confidence and self-esteem.
As a parent, it is your responsibility to guide your child on the know-how of the proper way to care for their teeth. Here’s what you’ll need to know to help your child build the necessary foundations for a set of healthy teeth that’ll stay with them for life.
Daily Routine
Kids have all their baby teeth by the age of 3 and these primary teeth will start falling out when they reach 6 to make way for their adult teeth. Establishing the best oral hygiene routine for your child needs to start when they’re 3 years old.
Establish a routine whereby your child is required to brush their teeth twice a day: once in the morning and once before they head for sleep. They’ll also need to have the habit of flossing once a day. Do be sure to pick a toothbrush with a smaller head and soft bristles.
Since most young children are not detailed in their brushing, you’ll need to supervise them when they brush their teeth, till they reach 7 years old. Most young children don’t have the dexterity to properly brush and floss their teeth either, so you’ll need to help till they can do everything on their own. Remind them to always pay attention to the back teeth and spit out the fluoride toothpaste after brushing.
Are Dental Check-Ups Necessary?
Another misconception many parents have is viewing dental check-ups as unnecessary. In actual fact, you’re encouraged to schedule dental check-ups for your child twice a year after their first tooth has emerged.
Some dental problems are neither apparent nor noticeable and will require an expert to identify and diagnose. If left alone, it can easily result in swelling and discomfort that can affect their ability to speak, chew and even sleep.
What Happens During A Check-Up?
The dentist will start by discussing your child’s oral hygiene practices and even dietary habits to make sure that the habits you’re instilling your child are healthy and proper ones. The dentist will then check your child’s teeth and gums for any decay, cracks, swelling and the like.
More often than not, they will offer to apply sealants to the deep grooves of the surfaces of molars. Since these grooves are in an area where even toothbrush bristles have a hard time reaching, sealants will protect these groves and the molars from food debris and bacteria to prevent tooth decay. If worn down or defective, these sealants can easily be replaced during the next dental appointment.
Should your child suffer from orthodontic problems, as most children do, you may want to consider giving your child a pair of braces to help them align their teeth. On top of their obvious orthodontic benefits, braces with colourful metal brackets such as metal and ceramic braces allow your child to showcase their personality even more, thus making the entire process even more fun and enjoyable.
Achieving healthy teeth and gums don’t have to be an arduous process. If one practises these habits since young, the road to a perfect and healthy smile is an easy and straightforward one! Let Luminous Dental help you in your journey to get a smile you are proud of!