The oral habits your child establishes when they're young will stick with them for the rest of their lives. Great at-home oral hygiene helps prevent common issues like gum disease and cavities, and sets them up for a lifetime of healthy smiles. Because of this, it’s really important to make sure your child brushes and flosses regularly, and comes into our office every 6 months for a checkup.
Building good oral health habits starts with parents. Here are just a few reasons you need to encourage your child to take better care of their teeth and gums.
As soon as your child’s first tooth erupts, start brushing it with a smear/rice-sized amount of fluoride toothpaste. Once they are 3 years old and likely have all their baby teeth, make sure to brush twice a day for at least two minutes, and clean each surface thoroughly. At this point, it is recommended to use a pea-sized amount of fluoridated toothpaste. Kids can usually effectively brush their own around the age of 8, but you know your child best. If they can tie their own shoes, they likely have the manual dexterity to effectively brush their teeth. Keep an eye on them to make sure they're brushing consistently and doing a good job.
Once your child has all of their teeth, start flossing them once per day. Flossing removes bacteria and buildup between teeth, where toothbrushes can’t reach. Learning to floss properly can be tough for younger kids, so you may need to floss for them until they're around 10 years old.
A healthy diet helps prevent common oral health problems like cavities. Your child should avoid sweet and sugary drinks and snacks. Encourage them to eat things like cheese, yogurt, lean meats, whole grains, and fresh fruits and vegetables. Avoiding processed foods and sugary/starchy snacks helps prevent cavities and gum disease, and will help improve both your child’s oral and overall health!
This does not mean they cannot enjoy treats at birthday parties or during Halloween. But it is important to minimize the frequency of which they're indulging!
You should start weaning your baby off bottles and pacifiers between the ages of 12-24 months. Start off by switching to a sippy cup before transitioning to an open cup once they turn two years old. Try and remove the pacifier by 3 years old!
Yes. While it is completely normal for children to suck their thumbs or fingers as a soothing mechanism, they should stop around the ages of 3-4 years old. If they continue thumb-sucking past the age of 4, it can lead to dental and speech problems.
The AAPD recommends bringing your child in for their first visit by the time their first tooth erupts, or by their first birthday, whichever comes first. At these early visits, we can ensure their teeth and jaw are developing properly, and address any minor issues before they become big ones. Plus, by starting their dental visits early, they are more likely to develop a positive relationship with their oral health.
A big part to such an early appointment is also parent education! We want to partner with mom and dad to make sure they know how to keep their kids healthy from the get-go!