3 Things You Can Do To Protect Your Baby's Teeth
Posted on: 8 February 2017
Are you the parent of a baby? If so, you likely have concerns about their health. You may even wonder if you are caring for your baby correctly if you are a first-time parent. Dental health is an important factor in overall health. Some parents mistakenly think that dental health is only important when their children get their permanent teeth. The following are a few dental health points you need to be aware of that can ensure your child's health.
Tooth Brushing
You should aim to start tooth brushing as soon as they get their first tooth. You can use a cloth if your baby initially has one tooth. This will aid in ensuring that they learn important oral care habits early in life. It will also protect precious "baby teeth" from decay. Use caution when selecting toothpaste for young children who are not old enough to spit and rinse. This is because if you use a fluoride-based toothpaste and they swallow it, their developing permanent teeth may have white spots on them from the fluoride.
Flossing
This is also a dental habit that should be practiced early in life. You should aim to floss your child's teeth as soon as they have enough teeth that are side by side. This will likely be at the point in their life when they are able to eat solid foods. Flossing is important because it removes food from between teeth. Food particles that remain between teeth are an ideal place for bacteria to thrive and cause decay. If you find it difficult to floss your child's teeth or they dislike doing it on their own, a water floss device is an alternative. These devices use spurts of water to remove food particles and plaque from between teeth.
Dental Visits
Going to the dentist for exams early in life can benefit your child because the dentist can treat issues such as cavities. Identifying cavities allows for early intervention and some children have cavities even though their teeth appear intact. This is why parents should not go by what they physically see. Another benefit of early dental visits is that it may help your child to not have dental anxiety later in life because they will be used to the experience.
Pediatric dentists are sometimes referred to as kids dentists, and they are a good resource to use to get more tips on caring for your child's oral health. They can also help you and your child with situations such as thumb sucking or teeth grinding.
For more information, visit websites like http://www.neufamilydental.com.
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