Pediatric dentists treat children who still have their baby teeth. Part of ensuring children can prevent oral health concerns at a young age includes teaching patients how to help their children brush and floss daily. This review discusses how parents can care for their child’s baby teeth between visits with their pediatric dentist.
Four key tips to remember when helping your child clean their baby teeth are to use a child-sized toothbrush, avoid using too much toothpaste, do not allow your child to brush on their own too soon, and ensure a consistent oral care routine is established. These tips, along with regular visits to the pediatric dentist, can significantly reduce the risk of cavities and other oral health concerns.
Using an adult-sized toothbrush can make brushing your child’s teeth far more challenging. Instead, ask your pediatric dentist if they can provide a child-sized toothbrush to use or find a dentist-recommended child toothbrush. This can ensure that you can help your child brush gently yet thoroughly and reach all areas of the mouth effortlessly. It may also be less intimidating for your child to use an appropriately sized toothbrush.
A common mistake parents make is using too much toothpaste when brushing their child’s teeth at a young age. Up until the age of three, children only need toothpaste the size of a grain of rice, according to the American Dental Association. Children between the ages of three and six only need approximately a pea-sized amount of toothpaste. Most pediatric dentists recommend using fluoride toothpaste to help strengthen the tooth enamel.
There is no specific age that is typically recommended for children to begin brushing on their own. Instead, it should be based on comfort level. However, it is important not to hand the reins over too soon. While helping your child brush, be sure to educate them on how to do so properly. Once they begin doing it on their own, monitor them and correct any mistakes they make until they get the hang of it and develop healthy habits.
Consistency is the key to good oral hygiene. Brushing infrequently can lead to a build-up of tartar on teeth and damage enamel, which can eventually lead to cavities on baby teeth. Be sure to help your child brush several times each day for approximately two minutes during each cleaning routine.
While implementing a proper oral care routine for your child is a great way to reduce the risk of developing issues, it does not replace the need for regular check-up visits and cleanings from a pediatric dentist. If your child is due for their next check-up, then call our kid-friendly pediatric dentistry team to set up a visit.
Request an appointment here: https://www.pediatricdentistrysemo.com or call Jayne F. Scherrman JS Pediatric Dentistry at (573) 271-3062 for an appointment in our Cape Girardeau office.
Check out what others are saying about our dental services on Yelp: Pediatric Dentist in Cape Girardeau, MO.
Pediatric dentistry treatments can stop and prevent tooth decay. This dental problem can influence a child’s emotional, physical, and mental well-being. Poor oral health results in more than tooth decay. This situation could lead to harmful diseases and other conditions. If you want to know tooth decay’s effects on children, here are the details from…
Pediatric dentistry focuses on providing treatments and services that help to keep your child's mouth healthy. Pediatric dentists offer common dental treatments, such as sealants, fluoride treatments, and space maintainers.Let us take a look at some of the more commonly used treatments in pediatric dentistry:Sealants are a type of preventative treatment that pediatric dentists often…
Pediatric dentistry can identify and treat plaque, which is a sticky substance. Plaque appears after every snack or meal. Brushing immediately can remove this thin layer of sticky substance. Doing so can prevent tartar formation. If you want to know more about how pediatric dentistry treats plaque, here are the details.The mouth invites all sorts…
Pediatric dentistry nutrition tips to maintain your child’s oral health are vital. These reminders can help you and your child with your consistency in dental care practices. A healthy diet needs more effort to maintain with all the tempting treats around your child. If you want to learn how to maintain good nutrition for your…