Proper Dental Care for Children

Dental hygiene begins as early as a child and entrusts parents to help teach good dental hygiene. Dental hygiene is essential throughout life to avoid dental issues from developing. The importance of professional treatment is a key element of dental care for children. Exams, flossing, brushing as well as rinsing and fluoride treatments are essential elements of dental care in the child’s development.

Starting and Maintaining Dental Care for Children

Dental hygiene should be started in the infant and newborn the first year. Cleaning the gums with a moist washcloth after meals and placing children to bed using only water bottles helps avoid problems when teeth begin to develop. Once the first tooth is visible the parents need to use a soft brush to brush their your teeth at the least two times per daily. As soon as all primary teeth become apparent, the child must go to the dentist.

Pediatric dentists typically recommend a visit for a trial which allows the child to experience the environment of a dental office. Children who are daily brushed should experience an ease with the oral examination part of a dental appointment. When children have permanent teeth, they need to begin to floss every night before going to bed. Dentists will provide guidance on the proper flossing practices, however parents should supervise children until the process is mastered.

Other Important Components of Dental Care for Children

Dentists advise the children get professional application of fluoride at minimum twice per year. Parents should also apply drops of fluoride systemically to infants , and tablets of fluoride for children from the teens. Parents should be vigilant about the levels of fluoride taken in by their children. Too little can lead to tooth decay. Too excessive amounts can result in dental white spots known as fluorosis.

In the teenage years teeth extractions or braces could be necessary to avoid the development of long-term dental issues. In fact, the American Association of Orthodontics recommends an orthodontic examination for children who are younger than seven. Braces can be used to straighten teeth and improve bite, preventing issues with the jaw and crooked teeth that can lead to tooth decay, irregular chewing problems, tooth wear and many more.

Starting good dental hygiene in the first years of life and continuing this throughout childhood increases the chance of children maintaining proper oral hygiene even as they grow older. This can help avoid having to have fillings or various dental treatments that can be uncomfortable costly, painful, and uncomfortable. Parents must reinforce that we are each given one tooth set in our lifetime and we should take care of teeth appropriately throughout the course of time.