Preventing dental issues in kids should start very early, even when baby teeth or primary teeth are replaced by a permanent set later. Teaching children healthy dental habits when they reach a year old will help curb teeth problems that may affect their overall wellbeing.
According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), many children have at least one cavity on their baby teeth between 6 to 8 years old. This may cause problems with their speaking, eating, playing, and even learning when it can be largely avoided.
Dr. Jenny Cavanaugh told Wink News that dental decay in kids is "five times more prevalent than asthma" thus, both the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) and the American Dental Association (ADA) recommend that kids experience their first visit to the dentist when they are a year old. She also suggested the following healthy ways for parents to instill good dental habits in their children.
1. Teach the children to brush their teeth twice a day.
Cavanaugh said that younger children might still not know how to spit out the fluoride toothpaste, so parents could start guiding them using a small amount, roughly the size of a grain of rice. As toddlers love to follow the adults, it will be good for the family to make brushing together a regular deal. It will only take two minutes of their time.
The CDC also recommends that parents watch their kids, who are below six years old, while they brush to assist them in developing good brushing skills. Avoid giving your kids too much water to swish or spit as much as possible because they could end up swallowing more toothpaste.
When the kids reach three years old, however, they should be able to master spitting out after brushing.
2. Introduce flossing when the child has two teeth or more.
Kids might take years to perfect flossing their teeth, but it's important to introduce this as soon as they have more than two teeth in their mouth. The children should be used to flossing at least once a day. They need to understand why taking out food debris that might be stuck in the teeth is crucial. Aside from preventing plaque and tartar formation, flossing also helps prevent bad breath.
3. Limit bottle feeding and turn to sippy cuts.
While this might be tough for the parents and their kids, bottle feeding before sleeping could often lead to tooth decay. Milk contains elements that can attract bacteria and acid that will create cavities.
At this point, the babies should be encouraged to drink their milk using a sippy cup, according to Colgate. If they fall asleep with their milk bottle, the parents must try to clean their mouth and teeth with a washcloth, gauze pad, or xylitol wipes without disturbing their sleep.
If the kids still need their baby bottle to soothe them to sleep, perhaps mom or dad should fill it up with water instead of milk. Never give the baby fruit juice for bedtime.
4. Ask the dentist for fluoride varnish and sealants.
Cavanaugh said fluoride varnish and sealants could protect children's teeth from decaying by as much as 80 percent. It's a procedure that parents can ask for their son or daughter's first dentist visit.
5. Limit sugar intake.
The number one cause of tooth decay is sugar. It might be hard to keep children from enjoying sugar-rich food, but parents must balance this with healthy snacking habits and a dental hygiene routine.
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