As babies turn into walking and talking toddlers, there are important oral health concerns to remember to keep your little one’s teeth healthy and happy. The experts at the American Academy of Pediatrics and the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry both recommend that children should see the dentist by the time they are one year old, and to continue on with regular dental check ups as they grow. Making sure to make time to visit the dentist during your child’s first few years can also end up saving you money and hassle. The Center for Disease Control came out with a report saying that average dental care costs were 40% lower over a five year period for children who received dental checkups by age one versus those who did not. Edmond, Oklahoma dentists Drs. Mark Allen and Michael Hansen have the following oral health tips in for you to keep in mind for young children.
Eliminating Drinks Full Of Sugar
Taking care to not allow toddlers to constantly drink sugary drinks, like juice and soda, is key to avoiding early teeth problems. The slow sucking of sweet and acidic drinks through bottles or sippy cups is terrible for the teeth enamel and can encourage bacterial growth. Though you may have heard of “baby bottle decay” before, many parents are unaware that putting a child to sleep with a bottle of milk, juice, or formula can allow sugars to adhere to the teeth and the resulting bacteria can cause decay and cavities. Untreated cavities and decay can even lead to more serious dental diseases that could even affect growth, and learning capabilities.
Get Rid Of The Pacifiers By Age 3
Binkies or pacifiers are often great tools to help babies and toddlers fall asleep or deal with stress. Pacifiers have even been suggested by the American Academy of Pediatrics to help prevent SIDS (Sudden Infant Death Syndrome) during the first year. But most health care professionals are in agreement that long term pacifier use can be bad for kids’ oral and dental health. It can detrimentally affect how the bites and teeth line up, and can lead to under bites, over bites. or cross bites. It’s best to limit the use of pacifiers to prevent it affecting the mouth shape, perhaps removing it after a child goes to sleep.
Go See A Dentist Early
Exposing your child to the dentist at an early age not only allows them to check your toddlers’ oral health, but also helps the child become more confortable and confident with the dentist office experience. As for parents, visits can also raise their oral health knowledge and let them know more about fluoride, oral hygiene, and correct teeth development. By creating early positive understanding and familiarly with a dentist, it can help set your child up for dental success for their entire life.
The Habit Of Brushing Twice A Day
Starting your young children on brushing early is one of the best ways to ensure a lifetime of healthy teeth. As soon as your baby has one tooth you should begin to brush it. Using fluoridate toothpaste is also recommended to help strengthen teeth, along with making sure to use soft bristled toothbrush for their little teeth. Your dentist will be happy to show your children the proper way to brush their teeth on your next visit. Many parents are not aware that their kids actually need their help until age six with teeth brushing, as a child’s manual dexterity simply is not refined enough to get all the teeth brushed properly.
If you have any questions about dental care of kids and toddlers, the staff and dentists in Edmond, Oklahoma at Santa Fe Dental are happy to answer them.