Pediatric dentists educate children and parents in oral health care on cleaning techniques of the mouth and teeth, diet and nutrition, and other factors that influence the health of teeth and oral cavity. During these events, they will share with parents how to stop cavity formation and tooth decay and provide solutions for other dental complications.
Through a trusted Scottsdale Kids Dentist, your child will have no chance of having cavities and thus not having toothache and tooth decay.
Saving children from cavities is critical for their dental condition, bodily function, and overall health. Here are some top tips recommended by pediatric dentists:
Regular dental visits
On this base, start on the first birthday or when the tooth appears, and you should schedule regular dental checkups for the child. Frequent dentist visits are indispensable for your baby’s oral health and saving cavities.
Going for checkups helps dentists catch any dental problems before they fully develop, such as cavities, gum diseases, and orthodontic issues. Detection during the earliest stage will lead to timely treatment that could prevent additional damage and the eventual onset of comorbidities.
Dental visits give the child’s dentist a platform to train parents and the child on maintaining good oral hygiene and having the proper diet and habits that benefit dental health. Regarding your child, they can deliver reliable counseling that aligns with your child’s unique dangers and risk factors.
Monitor diet
Vigilance for your child’s diet is needed to avert dental caries. Reading processed foods and beverages with high sugar levels might cause cavities. Restrict your children’s sources of candies, cookies, soda pop, fruit juices, and others. Encourage visitors to try healthy options like fresh fruits, vegetables, and cheese.
Every mother knows water is the best option for your baby’s teeth. Instigate them with water at regular intervals, especially steroids by beverages or sugary foods. Water helps wash out the debris food from the mouth and alkalising it.
Gooey, sticky food such as candies, crisps, and crackers will likely attract teeth and lead to decay. Be sure to limit these types of food in your child’s diet or get ready so that they brush their teeth after eating them.
Use fluoride toothpaste
The application of fluoride toothpaste is crucial in preventing cavities, and you should remember that at any time to ensure proper dental care for children. Fluoride prevents the decaying of teeth through remineralizing. Thus, using the fluoride toothpaste in the amount specified by your child’s dentist is recommended. For the children three to six years old, use a pea-sized toothpaste. It is better if the toothpaste has some fluoride in it.
Commencing the use of fluoride toothpaste from the time when the baby’s first tooth breaks from the gums is further noticeable. Use a smear of fluoride toothpaste (not in child’s throat for children at three years old).
Educate your child
It is essential to teach your child self-care ways, such as oral hygiene, to impart the correct values early and avoid tooth decay. Kids learn by following their parents, particularly embracing good hygiene.
Let picture books, videos, or diagrams guide your child on the importance of good oral hygiene by showing them the anatomy of their teeth. Involve various individuals to assist learners in understanding oral hygiene in a captivating and straightforward way.
Brush and floss collaboratively with your kiddo! It reminds them of the necessity and allows you to check their execution and suggest where it is needed. Positive reinforcement should be given to the child for their strength in maintaining good oral hygiene habits. Consider applying a reward system or other incentives to persuade them to brush and floss at least twice daily.
Address habits early
Thumbsucking and prolonged pacifier use long in childhood will lead to malformations of teeth and may lead to numerous cavities. Summing up, your kid’s dentist will recommend not to neglect dental habits by instilling them in their early years. Ensure you acknowledge and praise your child when they are non-addicted to thumb-sucking or pacifier use. Rather than punishment, reward could be used to fight the bad habit.
Keep track of yourself and your child’s overall conduct and mood to distinguish the situations that encourage thumbsucking or thumb-pacifier use.
Remind your child neutrally to do that, not to suck the thumbs or not to use the pacifier whenever you see them. For instance, be patient because it is not easy before the habit is broken.