Oral Health Must Start Early: 7 Dental Care Tips for Children

Many parents don’t think about their children’s oral care until they’ve developed teeth in their mouths for a more extensive period of time. But, for proper oral care, it’s got to start even earlier than that. Parents who take control of their children’s health care early can prevent the development of much bigger problems later on.

1. Remember, dental health starts in the womb – when there’s a baby on board, moms can aid in the development of their child’s teeth by consuming calcium-rich items
2. Recognize that teeth are there even if you can’t see them – while they might not be visible at birth, there are about 20 primary teeth in the jaw. They can be cared for by wiping the gums with a warm cloth to prevent bacteria
3. Start dental care around the first year – by a child’s first birthday they should have a visit to the dentist. Gum and tooth decay can be evaluated, other issues like thumb sucking or use of soothers than can affect teeth can also be addressed. This is also a time when dentists can begin providing parents better tips for caring for children’s teeth
4. Don’t introduce toothpaste too early – toothpaste, even the children’s variety, should only be used by age 2. Before that water and a toothbrush is a great way to start
5. Teach them to brush – although children may not be able to brush independently until 6 or 7, until then, teach them the right techniques and give them a chance to try brushing for themselves
6. Use floss – many parents forget that floss is important for children too. Start as soon as they have teeth in their mouth to clean between them
7. Make dental visits fun – some kids fear the dentist, make sure the trips are fun and if you have the right dentist, that can help make it an even more enjoyable experience for them

Via: Dentistry.com

(Image Credit: Flickr Creative Commons)

Tags: caring for children's teeth, dental care for parents, dental tips for children, dentists for children, oral health

This entry was posted on Saturday, January 16th, 2010 at 8:01 pm and is filed under Dental Tips, Oral Health for Children. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.