You must be aware that dental health is important for both children and adults. Therefore, the dental care should start from the beginning. Even though baby teeth fall out and they grow new ones, it is crucial to take care of the baby teeth to avoid permanent damage like cavities. As a parent, knowing how to prevent cavities in children can help you manage their dental health. Often, you may feel difficulty in managing healthy dental habits in children, as they are less likely to understand the importance of dental health. In this blog you we are going to share some easy and fun tips that can be beneficial in maintaining healthy oral habits for your child.
Also Read: 5 Questions to Ask Before Choosing a Leading Dentist in Siliguri
Let’s Understand What Cavities Are
In simple language, cavities are holes in teeth caused by tooth decay, breakdown or destruction of tooth enamel, the hard outer surface of tooh. This is also known as dental caries. Tooth decay in children can be caused by bacteria and other factors. When they eat foods containing carbohydrates like sugar and starches left on their teeth, the bacteria in their mouth transform them into acids. Over time, these acids, bacteria, food particles and saliva form a substance called plaque around their teeth. This leads to erosion of tooth enamel due to bacteria, resulting in cavities. If left untreated, cavities can get bigger, reaching deep within a tooth and can cause pain.
Learn Some of The Fun & Easy Tips to Prevent Cavities in Your Child
Taking care of your child’s dental habits from an early age can be significantly helpful in their long-term dental and overall health. Here are some tips mentioned below:
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Make Brushing Fun:To develop a healthy brushing routine is one of the most crucial steps to ensure your child’s dental health. But making it fun can encourage them to follow the brushing routine regularly. You can use some interesting brushes featuring their favourite character of cartoon game and any other. Play their favourite song and put timer to excite them to brush. Following a regular brushing routine is necessary to clean the food particles left on their teeth.
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Follow the Rule of Two:It is important to brush twice a day for sufficient cleaning. Make sure your child brushes twice a day, once in the morning and once at night before going to bed, for two minutes each time. Encourage them to follow this rule by exemplifying a strong character that they follow or idolise.
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Encourage Them to Opt for Healthy Snacks: One of the major causes of cavities in children is the food and drinks they consume. Eating foods and drinking beverages that contain high sugar and calories can harm their teeth, causing bacteria in their mouth. Switch them with healthy food habits, giving them colourful fruits and vegetables such as apples, carrots, spinach, berries, and broccoli. Cut the fruits and prepare the foods in different and interesting shapes, making them more likely to be eaten. Besides, brushing twice daily and eating a balanced diet are important for them.
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Use The Correct Toothpaste Amount: In protecting your child’s teeth from cavities, choosing the correct toothpaste as per requirement is also necessary. If your child is under 3, use a tiny smear of fluoride toothpaste, about the size of a rice grain. On the other hand, for children aged 3 or older, use a pea-sized amount of fluoride toothpaste for sufficient cleaning. Make sure the bristle is soft to prevent damage to their tiny teeth. Consider consulting a specialist for child dental care tips.
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Keep Rinsing Interesting:After brushing, it is important that there is no toothpaste left in your child’s teeth and mouth, which requires proper rinsing. Often, it can be difficult for them to understand, so make sure they gargle and rinse their mouth properly. Teach them to spit or gargle like a strong person to remove the toothpaste from their mouth. By making them realise that they are capable, you can boost healthy habits in children.
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Begin Early: Starting dental care at an early age adds value to one’s long-term dental and overall health. Before your baby’s first tooth grows, make sure you use a soft washcloth to clean their gums and teeth gently. As the sugar remains on their gum after consuming milk or other foods, it can increase the risk of ECC (Early Childhood Caries), a severe form of tooth decay in children.
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Take Them to Dentists: To build healthy dental habits and avoid the risk of cavities and other dental issues in children, visiting dental clinics from an early age plays the most crucial role. This helps them become familiar with dentists and dental clinics without being afraid of them.Your child’s dentists monitor their oral health and development and encourage them to understand the importance of brushing and kids' oral hygiene habits. Most dental clinics for children are equipped with fun toys and colourful paintings to reduce their fear and make them more likely to come to the clinic. Make sure you take your child to an efficient and hygienic dental clinic from a young age.
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Be the Role Model:Kids are more likely to imitate their parents in every activity. By being an example of good dental care in front of your child, you can encourage them to build healthy oral habits to avoid cavities. Make sure you brush together with your child by following a daily routine. You can playfully compete with them, such as who can brush better and how long one can brush, making it last for two minutes. With this, you can let your child follow healthy oral habits from an early age to prevent dental issues.
- Maintain Hygiene at Home: When developing a healthy oral habit in your child to avoid cavities, it begins at home. Your child’s immunity is not as strong as an adult's, which makes them susceptible to catch infection. Make sure you maintain proper hygiene and cleanliness by using different utensils for them and sterilising their feeding and water bottle regularly. Prevent sharing food from the same spoon and transferring bacteria from your mouth to it. Avoid cleaning your baby’s pacifier with your saliva. Practising hygiene can boost their immunity, reducing the risk of oral issues.
Final Words,
By incorporating good oral hygiene and regular dental visits, you can protect your child’s teeth from the threat of cavities. To ensure their overall well-being, prioritising their dental health from an early age becomes an integral part of their healthy development. The abovementioned essential and fun tips can surely help you build oral habits in your child. However, it is always recommended that you follow up with a specialist in a dental clinic from the beginning to understand and maintain your child’s dental health. You can visit Doctor Smile Dental Clinic for efficient dental care for your child.
