As a parent, you want to do everything you can to ensure your child grows up enjoying all the benefits of good health, including a healthy mouth in Oshawa. There are certain things to bear in mind to make sure your child’s smile stays healthy right throughout childhood, providing them with an excellent foundation for enjoying good oral health for life.
You can clean a young infant’s gums using a damp washcloth or a clean piece of gauze after each feeding. This helps get them into the routine of having their mouth cleaned regularly. Once your child is a toddler, they need to have a good daily brushing and flossing routine that is non-negotiable, and you can lead by example by making sure they see you clean your teeth each day and regularly visit the dentist.
Setting a good example to your child from the beginning helps put them on the right path for good dental health. Good oral care isn’t complicated, but neglecting it can increase your child’s risk of developing serious health problems in the future. Oral health is increasingly linked to conditions like diabetes and heart disease.
Four simple rules to help keep your child’s teeth healthy include:
- Brush their teeth regularly using a child-sized toothbrush and appropriate toothpaste. Please don’t forget we can always offer advice on which toothbrush and toothpaste to choose, as well as lots of useful tips on how to brush your child’s teeth thoroughly.
- Avoid sugary foods, especially giving your child a bedtime bottle or sippy cup containing a sweet liquid. When a child goes to bed with a sweet drink, it allows the liquid to coat their teeth overnight, greatly increasing the risk of tooth decay. Even milk and formula contain sugars.
- Book regular dental checkups and cleanings for your child so they grow up seeing dental visits as part of everyday life and nothing to fear.
- Keep an eye on your child’s dental health between checkups. Watch out for any dark spots on teeth that could indicate the first signs of tooth decay. If your child starts complaining about sensitive teeth or toothache, bring them to see us as soon as you can. We make every effort to see anyone in discomfort or pain as quickly as possible, preferably on the same day, especially when it’s a child.
Margolian Dentistry is a family-oriented dental practice, and we warmly welcome children. Our practice is specifically designed to create a welcoming, relaxing atmosphere. Large screen TVs in all our treatment rooms help ensure visits are more enjoyable for everyone.
We suggest parents bring their child to see us as soon as those first precious teeth erupt. Bringing a child to our dental practice between age one and two may seem very young, but it’s the perfect time to get them accustomed to a new environment and helps ensure that future visits are a positive experience. When we can start seeing children early for regular checkups and cleanings in Whitby, we can closely monitor their oral health and help foster good oral hygiene habits to keep their teeth and gums in great shape.
As your child gets older and more independent, we can teach them how to clean their teeth thoroughly and how to floss correctly. Our experienced dental team can use educational tools and child-friendly terminology to make learning fun and enjoyable. We can also gently explain why good oral health is so important, so they grow up knowing the benefits of maintaining good oral health in Ajax.
