Teaching your children to take good care of teeth is an important aspect of personal care and you should begin his general oral care even before his first tooth appears. Babies are born with their teeth buried inside the gums and the first baby tooth breaks through around six months. If you ensure your baby becomes accustomed to gum and tooth care then this is one way you are conveying the importance of oral hygiene from an early age.
The following tips can help your child achieve healthy oral hygiene habits that will last a lifetime:
0 to 2 years of age
1. Get your child accustomed to having gums wiped with a washcloth immediately after feeding, this removes any plaque build up
2. Once baby teeth appear, brush your baby’s teeth twice a day with a soft toothbrush and water
3. Bottle tooth decay can damage your baby’s teeth. Take bottles away when he has finished drinking and don’t put him to bed with a bottle
4. Arrange your child’s first dental checkup prior to the age of one
3 to 5 years old
1. Allow your child to take possession of the tooth brushing routine by choosing his own suitable toothbrush and toothpaste supplies
2. Use a pea-sized amount of fluoride toothpaste at every brushing
3. Gradually allow your toddler to control the tooth brushing ritual. Start off by letting him brush in the mornings and carry on brushing his teeth yourself in the evenings. This reinforces good brushing habits
4. Look around for a battery operated toothbrush. You may find one that plays music or emits a signal once he’s brushed for two minutes, this way he’ll get into the habit of taking time over the tooth brushing routine
5. Teach your child to pay extra attention to back teeth when brushing as these often have more plaque that needs removing
6. Break thumb sucking or pacifier habits by the age of four at the latest
7. Arrange six-monthly visits to your family dentist
6 to 9 years of age
1. As soon as two teeth touch each other you need to teach your child how to floss correctly. This is something you should do for him at first until he gets the knack of using floss
2. Keep helping him with flossing and brushing until you’re quite certain he can manage to care for his teeth without adult supervision
3. Arrange an orthodontic examination for your child around the age of seven. Early recognition of orthodontic problems will reduce any need for removal of permanent teeth at a later date
Age 10 and above
1. If your child plays sports on a regular basis, encourage him to wear a mouth guard to protect his teeth from damage
2. Keep reminding your child of the importance of good oral hygiene
3. If your child wears braces ensure teeth are being brushed and flossed regularly, as the way teeth are treated during this period affects their appearance when the braces are removed
4. Encourage your child to carry toothpaste, toothbrush and floss in his bag every day, just in case he needs to clean his teeth
Finally, throughout your child’s formative years you should make sure sugary and sweet foods are kept to a minimum as they encourage tooth decay. Helping your child adopt healthy eating habits is something that will endure throughout his lifetime and regular dental treatments or tooth extractions will be minimized if he is in the habit of keeping his teeth and gums healthy.
Drs. Savage, Sabol and Visser are popular orthodontists in the Virginia Beach neighborhood and can offer your child the professional services necessary to keep his smile looking fantastic.
