With all the hustle and bustle of modern day life, most people in Surprise simply do not have the time to take care of little things such as oral health. In fact, when it comes to oral hygiene, most people simply take a toothbrush with some toothpaste, take a few strokes on the teeth, rinse off and they are done. Even less attention is given to the oral healths of kids and young ones who are left to care for their teeth on their own from a very early age.
It is worth pointing out here that oral hygiene in particular and getting a pediatric dentist in Surprise is a lot more important for children and infants than it is for grownups and adults. There are many factors behind this too. First of all, their teeth are mush softer and a lot more susceptible to damage, decay, discoloration and other tooth diseases. Secondly, any tooth problems such as irregular teeth are much easier to correct in children than in adults. Unfortunately, even in spite of all the above supporting arguments, most parents simply do not give enough time and attention to their children’s dental health. Maybe it is because they do not know how to go about it or it is because they simply do not have the time to do so. Either way, here are 8 general dental health care tips for children that should help you take better care of your children’s teeth.
- Use the right toothbrush; do not buy your child a toothbrush that is of the same size as your own. Children’s teeth are much smaller and a lot more sensitive than adult teeth. In addition, they have very soft and sensitive gums. Thus the toothbrush that you choose for your child must satisfy two conditions. First, it has to have smooth bristles that can massage the gums gently without causing any damage. Second, it must be small enough to fit into your child’s mouth without going too far beyond the teeth themselves.
- Always use very small quantities of toothpaste. Generally, children like to swallow things and they will do the same when it comes to toothpaste foam. You should therefore ensure that they get very small amounts of foam in their mouths and you can do this by apply only tiny amounts of toothpaste to the brushes.
- Guard your child’s teeth against cavities. There are many ways through which you can protect your children’s teeth from cavities (to which they are highly prone given the sensitivity of their teeth). A good way to do this is through the use of sealants placed on your child’s back teeth since the back teeth are the most likely to get cavities.
- Brush your children’s teeth the right way; most dentists recommend that teeth should always be brushed in up and down strokes as opposed to side-side strokes of the toothbrush and the same brushing technique should be taught to and used on children as well.
- Develop good dental habits; habits like carrying food to bed and eating sweet food at night right before bedtime should be totally discouraged in children since they are actively responsible for the occurrence of cavities.
- Regular flossing of teeth; okay granted, it is not easy to floss a child’s teeth since there is usually very little space, if any between the teeth of children. However, more spaces develop after the milk teeth are gone and regular flossing should be started immediately at this point.
- Inspect for dental problems; from time to time, you should take a look into your child’s mouth and closely examine his or her teeth. This will help you identify any dental problems while still in their early stages and, as such, they can be corrected in good time.
- Visit a dentist regularly; children, like adults, should visit a dentist at least once every six months. In fact, children’s visits should be much more regular because of the fact that they are more susceptible to dental problems than adults. Regular visits to a pediatric dentist in Surprise can help detect any dental problems the child has in good time so that they can be treated or corrected in good time before they get out of hand.
