How to Prevent Tooth Decay in Children

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How to Prevent Tooth Decay in Children

Both parents and dental professionals want what is best for our children and looking after their beautiful smile should be one of our top priorities. Whilst it is easy enough to remember to brush our own teeth, teaching our children to brush and look after their own teeth can be a lot harder. As a parent, there are many things you can do to prevent tooth decay in your children and avoid trips to the dentist; here’s how.

Promote Brushing

From an early age, you need to do all you can to promote brushing to your child. Some children will happily do this whilst for others and take it from a dentist, it can be a bit of a struggle! From when they can hold a toothbrush, it is a good idea to let them have a play with it themselves before brushing yourself to ensure that nowhere has been missed. Dentists recommend brushing your teeth at bedtime together is also a good way to make sure they are following the rules and doing it correctly. You can buy fun toothbrushes and toothpaste from your dental clinic to keep the kids interested during this time and there are plenty of dental related books out there that explain the importance of keeping your teeth nice and healthy.

Limit Sugar

Just like everyone else, children need to limit the amount of sugar they eat, otherwise, your dentist will see that tooth decay could occur. Sugar is in almost everything we have, so making healthier choices to avoid this is important, not just for your child’s teeth but for their overall health. Dentists can attest that there are many hidden sugars in items such as formula milk, so it is best to provide them with the nutrients they need through healthy foods. Try to be smart with sugary drinks and juice and provide them with water from an early age. If they will only drink juice, get low sugar juices and also dilute more than you would for yourself.

Teach them to Drink from a Cup

Dental experts say that drinking from a bottle can make tooth decay worse and can cause bacteria to build up in the mouth, especially due to the fact that milk contains sugar. If your baby falls asleep with their bottle, make sure this is removed when they have fallen asleep. If you do not do this, bacteria acids can cause tooth decay in babies making it even more difficult for your dentist to help.

Regular Dental Visits

Your child should visit the dentist from an early age. Not only can this reduce any anxiety felt by dental visits, but it also means that children will be more aware of the fact they have to keep their teeth clean not just for themselves or for their parents, but for their dentist as well. Dentists will also be able to pick up on any signs of tooth decay early, meaning they can begin the necessary treatment if required. Your dentist can give you any advice you may need to keep your child’s teeth healthy and strong. Visiting a family dentist such as this Edmonton dentist means you can book appointments with your children and have continuing dental care for the whole family.

Keeping your child’s teeth healthy will prevent tooth decay, resulting in less visits to your dental clinic. This means they will grow healthy adult teeth and will grow up understanding the importance of dental hygiene. 

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