As adults, it’s easy to recognize the need for good dental health and we can take steps necessary to improve it. Children, on the other hand, don’t have a real sense of consequence. They don’t realize that not caring for their teeth in the proper way will lead to problems later on in life, maybe even before they hit their teens or adolescence.
This is where you come in. As a parent, it is your duty to ensure that your child’s dental health is a priority, from the time before his or her teeth start coming in until your little one has a full set of chompers, and even beyond. This can save them pain, frustration, and yes, even money in their later years. Unfortunately, many parents are unaware of the steps they should take in the first few years of a child’s life in regards to dental health. That’s why we’ve compiled a few tips that you can use to improve your child’s dental health right now.
Clean Your Infant’s Mouth
Many parents don’t realize that you can actually begin prepping for a life of good dental health even before your child’s teeth have begun to come in. That’s because even though they lack teeth, a child’s gums need to be cared for. You can clean an infant’s gums by gently running a damp washcloth over them on a daily basis. This will help wipe away bacteria and prevent deterioration and harm to the gums.
Get That First Toothbrush Early
As soon as your child’s teeth begin to come in, don’t hesitate. Go out to the store and purchase his or her first toothbrush (you can frame it later, if you wish, but please scrub it clean first). You want to start with off with a soft-bristle brush since an infant’s mouth is so sensitive. Gently clean the gums with the brush and plain water. That’s all you need.
Plan Your Child’s First Dental Visit
The reason to schedule your child’s first dental visit at a very early age — around the time of their first birthday is perfect — is two-fold. First, doing so promotes good dental health, something that you should continue to follow through with in the future. Second, it’s no secret that many people are afraid of the dentist. This is especially true with children who don’t begin dental visits until they’re older because they equate such visits with pain or discomfort. Starting them off early can alleviate these fears quite effectively.
Ensure the Use of Toothpaste
For the first couple of years, you’ll be brushing your child’s teeth. When most kids reach the age of two, they should able to spit on their own with no problem. This is when you should take advantage of their newfound skills and teach them how to brush their teeth themselves using a pea-sized amount of toothpaste. However, you will still want to supervise your child closely until they’re approximately five years old.
Commit This to Memory: 2-2-2
The “2-2-2 rule” is an easy way to ensure that your child is on his or her way to good dental health. First, your child should be flossing and brushing two times a day. Next, brushing should last for two whole minutes for the best results. If this seems too long for them, have your child brush along to a two-minute song and the time will fly by. And finally, you should be taking your child to a dentist two times a year. If you follow this simple 2-2-2 rule, you’ll definitely seem improvements in your child’s dental health.
It is never too early to begin educating your child on the importance of dental health. Starting early will not only prevent potentially harmful problems with their teeth and gums in the future, it will eventually teach them good flossing and brushing habits. If you’d like more information about dental health or need to schedule an appointment, contact the office of Bruce C. McArthur, DDS.