When it comes to the health of your child's primary teeth, there is no better time than now to start practicing excellent oral hygiene. Pediatric dental care ensures your child's primary teeth stay healthy and free of decay and other dental diseases.
Intro to Good Oral Hygiene for Kids
Good oral hygiene starts as early as infancy. Whether you're nursing or bottle feeding, you should begin incorporating some type of dental hygiene regimen as soon as possible. Before any teeth erupt, wipe down the gums with gauze or a soft, wet washcloth. Once teeth begin to come in, keep them clean. Using the right set of tools is essential for this daily ritual. For example, it is important to purchase a toothbrush designed specifically for babies, which will have a much smaller head, for their tiny mouths.
If you have not done so already, make sure your child has his or her first dental visit by the time he or she turns one to two years of age. Your pediatric dentist will keep your child's teeth healthy by removing plaque build-up and food debris that may be stuck in his teeth. This is an important part of dental care because it prevents bacteria from continuing to grow, which may eventually lead to other dental diseases (eg. tooth decay or inflammation of the gum tissue). Make your regular visits to the pediatric dentist a fun adventure that always yields some type of tooth-friendly reward.
Professional Care Tips
A professional pediatric dentist will provide you with expert tips on how to take care of your child's teeth at home. Advice typically includes the proper way to floss and brush your child's teeth and additional information based on the specific condition of your child's teeth.
Another topic that's typically addressed is your child's eating habits and what parents should do to help protect their child's teeth and gums. As a general precaution, parents should stay away from foods rich in sugar and starch. In addition, a child should never go to sleep while nursing or with a juice or milk in their bottle.
Your baby's primary teeth are important. Developmental stages that are imperative to your child's future dental health depends on them. Dentistry for children provides parents with a guide for oral care so that they will have excellent dental hygiene as they mature. To learn more about pediatric dental care, visit the Colgate Oral Care resources.
