Child care providers can help promote young children’s dental health by teaching good dental habits. Here are some general tips for child care providers to help keep children’s teeth healthy.
We love our patients and love to help them form healthy dental life that will last them a lifetime. For more information call us today to answer all of your questions so get an appointment.
The key to keeping a bright, healthy smile throughout adulthood is to practice proper oral hygiene. Even adults can get cavities, as well as gum disease, that can lead to serious problems. Throughout your adult life, it’s important to continue to:
Even if you brush and floss regularly, you may face certain oral health issues as an adult. Luckily, your dentist can help you meet most of these challenges quite successfully.
Thorough cleanings by a dentist or hygienist will remove most external staining caused by food and tobacco. Using a whitening toothpaste can also help remove these surface stains between dental visits. If stains have been present for years, you may need to have your teeth professionally whitened to remove these more stubborn external stains.
Internal stains can be bleached, bonded or capped (crowned). While each of these methods is safe and effective, your dentist will recommend which treatment is appropriate for you depending on the state of your teeth and the results that you wish to achieve.
In addition to greatly affecting your overall health, proper nutrition is necessary for healthy teeth and gums. Eating a well-balanced diet gives your gum tissues and teeth the important nutrients and minerals they need to stay strong and resist infections, which can contribute to gum disease. Also, firm, fibrous foods such as fruits and vegetables tend to help clean the teeth and tissues. Soft, sticky foods tend to remain on the grooves and between teeth, producing more plaque.
Each time you consume foods and drinks that contain sugars or starches, the bacteria in plaque produce acids that attack your teeth for 20 minutes or more. To reduce damage to your tooth enamel, limit the number of between-meal snacks and drinks. And when you do snack, choose nutritious foods such as cheese, raw vegetables, plain yogurt or fruit.
When the first teeth begin to erupt in your child’s mouth, you might feel concerned about giving her the right dental care and ensuring that her teeth remain white, clean and cavity-free. Proper dental care for kids involves more than just brushing your child’s teeth every day. It involves knowing the right overall dental hygiene so that you can teach your child how to care for her teeth throughout her lifetime.
Begin by learning the right way to brush your child’s teeth. Babies and toddlers should use a very soft toothbrush and gel toothpaste designed for younger children. As children get older, you can encourage them to keep their teeth clean by giving them exciting products that make brushing fun. Show your child how to brush using small, circular motions along the gum line, and make sure to encourage proper dental hygiene by having her brush and floss after every meal.
Dental care for kids does not have to feel overwhelming. Try to involve your children as much as possible so that they feel excited and empowered about keeping their teeth and gums healthy. Consider taking your children to a pediatric dentist who understands how to make dental checkups less intimidating. Pediatric dental offices often have toys, games, and movies to help children relax and enjoy going to the dentist. Your pediatric dentist can go over proper dental hygiene for kids, and will help you find more resources for keeping your child’s teeth and gums healthy.
We love our patients and love to help them form healthy dental life that will last them a lifetime. For more information call us today to answer all of your questions so get an appointment.
Is your teething baby keeping you up at night? Understand how to soothe sore gums and care for your baby’s new teeth.
Although timing varies widely, babies often begin teething by about age 6 months. The two bottom front teeth (lower central incisors) are usually the first to appear, followed by the two top front teeth (upper central incisors).
Classic signs and symptoms of teething include:
Many parents suspect that teething causes higher fever and diarrhea, but researchers say they aren’t indications of teething. If your baby has a rectal temperature of 100.4 F (38 C) or diarrhea, talk to your doctor.
If your teething baby seems uncomfortable, consider these simple tips:
Avoid homeopathic teething tablets and teething medications that contain the pain reliever benzocaine or lidocaine. They can be harmful — even fatal — to your baby.
Teething can usually be handled at home. Contact the doctor if your baby develops a fever, seems particularly uncomfortable, or has other signs or symptoms of illness that could be unrelated to the teething.
Ideally, you’ve been running a clean, damp washcloth or a soft infant toothbrush over your baby’s gums every day. If not, now’s a great time to start. The cleansing can keep bacteria from building up in your baby’s mouth.
When your baby’s first teeth appear, use a small, soft-bristled toothbrush. Until your child learns to spit — at about age 3 — use a smear of fluoride toothpaste no bigger than the size of a grain of rice. Then switch to a pea-sized dollop as they approach 2 to 3 years of age.
It’s also time to think about regular dental checkups. The American Dental Association and the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry recommend scheduling a child’s first dental visit after the first tooth erupts and no later than his or her first birthday.
Your baby’s teeth and gums will also be examined at well-baby checkups. Remember, regular childhood dental care helps set the stage for a lifetime of healthy teeth and gums
We love our patients and love to help them form healthy dental life that will last them a lifetime. For more information call us today to answer all of your questions so get an appointment.
You can keep your child from getting tooth decay by starting his dental care early. Follow these steps to prevent cavities and keep his beautiful smile healthy.
Your child should see a dentist by his first birthday. Early preventive care saves you money in the long run. A CDC report shows that dental care costs are nearly 40% lower over 5 years for children who see a dentist by age 5.
Brushing is crucial from the get-go. Before your baby has teeth, you can gently brush his gums. Use water on a baby toothbrush, or clean them with a soft washcloth.
When your baby’s teeth appear, brush twice a day with an infant toothbrush and fluoridated toothpaste.
Start flossing when two of his teeth touch each other. Ask your dentist about techniques and schedules.
Brush and floss just before bedtime. After that, don’t give your child any food or drink, except water, until the next morning. CONTINUE READING BELOW
Your dentist can suggest when your child should start using mouthwash. You’ll need to wait until he knows how to spit it out.
Don’t put your infant or older child down for a nap with a bottle of juice, formula, or milk. Sugary liquids cling to his teeth, feeding bacteria that can cause tooth decay.
If you must give your child a bottle to take to bed, make sure it contains only water.
Many parents think juice is a healthy daylong choice for a drink, but it can lead to tooth decay.
Limit your child to no more than 4 ounces a day of 100% fruit juice. Give non-sugary drinks and foods at mealtimes, and use juice only as a treat.
A sippy cup can help kids move from a bottle to a glass, but don’t let him drink from it all day long. Using it too much can lead to decay on the back of the front teeth if the drinks are sugary.
There are lots of good reasons to let your child use a pacifier, but in the long term, it can affect how his teeth line up. It can also change the shape of the mouth.
Talk to your doctor if he’s still using a pacifier past age 3.
Children’s medications can be flavored and sugary. If they stick on the teeth, the chance of cavities goes up. Children on medications for chronic conditions such as asthma and heart problems often have a higher decay rate.
Antibiotics and some asthma medications can cause an overgrowth of candida (yeast), which can lead to a fungal infection called oral thrush. Signs are creamy, curd-like patches on the tongue or inside the mouth.
Talk to your dentist about how often to brush if your child is taking long-term medications. It could be as often as four times a day.
If your kid puts up a fuss when it comes time to brush, floss, and rinse, don’t let him off the hook. Make it clear he doesn’t have a choice.
Some tips to coax your reluctant child to brush on his own or get your little one to let you help:
Be patient. Kids can start brushing their teeth with help from a grownup around 2 or 3. But they may not be ready to go it alone until about age 6. And it can take until around age 10 until children perfect their flossing skills.
Don’t wait until late in the day. If your child is tired, you may not get much cooperation with brushing, flossing, and rinsing. So start before it’s too close to bedtime.
Let your child choose toothpaste. Kids 5 or older can pick their own from options you approve.
Motivate. A younger child may gladly brush for a sticker, for instance, or gold stars on a chart. Or make it a group activity. Kids might be more likely to join in if they see the grownups brushing.
We love our patients and love to help them form healthy dental life that will last them a lifetime. For more information call us today to answer all of your questions so get an appointment.