How can you prepare your child now for developing healthy adult teeth?
Of course, healthy teeth come first with good oral hygiene. If your child is an infant, it’s vital that you as a parent clean your baby’s gums with a clean, wet washcloth. This can stimulate the baby teeth and clean away any excess milk or oral bacteria present in the mouth. Do this twice a day, ideally. This prepares your child’s gum tissue for developing and supporting their first set of teeth.
Once your child’s very first tooth begins to arrive, it’s time to brush their tooth. Opt for a baby toothbrush and a pea-sized drop of infant-friendly toothpaste. This should be done on a twice-a-day basis just as we do with our own pearly whites. As our child’s teeth begin to develop further, more thorough brushings and flossing will be necessary.
As children get older, they should be taught the responsibility of brushing their own teeth. Thorough guidance and monitoring are musts to ensure your children are properly and accurately brushing their teeth.
Teaching your child why brushing the teeth is important will help them understand why they need to care for their teeth to begin with. Toothbrushing without knowing its purpose won’t be very motivational for children.
To make toothbrushing even more motivational and even fun for children, allow them to choose their own toothpaste and toothbrush. Fun, fancy brushes may offer music but are a little pricier. Nevertheless, they are certainly worth it if it gets your child to brush their teeth more often.
Additionally, it’s vital that a parent takes their child to the dentist when their first tooth erupts. Appointments should be made twice a year and should be continued for life.
Teaching your child the importance of dental visits is also important so that they are encouraged to attend and to continue going long after they are off on their own. Making wise choices for your child’s diet, oral hygiene, and dental appointment habits is a must for future, healthy permanent teeth. Be a great teacher for your little ones.
