Keeping Your Child’s Teeth Healthy At Home
While regular visits to a children’s dentist in Geelong keeps your child’s teeth in check, instilling good oral habits in them can help reduce potential dental problems.
In this article, we explore the roles you can play in keeping your child’s teeth healthy at home before your next appointment at your family dental care in Geelong.
Promote Good Brushing Habits
Once your children can brush their teeth independently, it is time to teach them the good brushing habits they need for a lifetime.
The basics you should teach your children about brushing their teeth are as follow:
- Brushing for at least two minutes to ensure a thorough cleaning
- Brushing when they wake up and before bedtime (as the last thing they do for the day)
- Remember to brush the tongue to remove any plaque (which can build up on the tongue, potentially causing tooth decay and gum problems)
- Use a pea-sized amount of toothpaste.
- Replace the toothbrush when the bristles become frayed.
Brushing together as a family is a great way to instil good brushing habits. This not only helps your children develop the habit of brushing their teeth, but also allows you to monitor and improve their brushing techniques.
Teach Them Flossing
Flossing is a frequently overlooked aspect of many patients’ oral hygiene routine. It is just as essential as brushing! Flossing allows you to clean in between your teeth and gums where a toothbrush cannot reach, thereby reducing the risk of developing gum disease and cavities.
While teaching your children how to floss may take some time initially, they will get accustomed to it, and it will greatly help their oral health in the long run. If you need help teaching your children how to floss, contact your local children’s dentist in Geelong.
Provide A Healthy Diet
Avoid sugary or acidic snacks and beverages as much as possible, as they can cause harm to your tooth enamel, resulting in sensitivity and discolouration.
Promote Drinking Water
In addition to eating a healthy diet, children should drink plenty of water daily. Drinking water helps reduce acidity from sugary food, remove any lingering food particles from the mouth and keep hydrated throughout the day.
Control Negative Habits
A few negative habits may develop during childhood which can affect dental health. It is best to discourage your child from using a pacifier or thumb-sucking, as this can change the alignment of their teeth and breathing habits in the long run. Nail biting and teeth grinding at night can also cause fractures and chipping. Since teeth grinding during sleep is done subconsciously, a dental consult and assessment with our dentists at Geelong West Dental is recommended to find options that can help with this habit, including night guards.
Regular Dentist Visits
Regular dentist visits are vital to ensure your child’s teeth development are being monitored and for early detection of any potential dental problems that may be harder to correct later in life.
You should bring your child to the dentist around the age of two. This allows them to become better acquainted with the dental clinic surroundings and the family dentist. From here, your dentist can provide advice on preventing tooth decay and identifying any oral health issues early on.
Family Dental Care Services at Geelong West Dental
Consultation is required for further assessment. The contents of this post do not substitute professional dental advice.
At Geelong West Dental, our friendly team of dental experts and experienced dentists provide personalised dental care. We offer a range of dental services from smile design to emergency dentistry in Geelong. Get in touch with us today to learn more about our services.