Importance of Children’s Dental Care Explained by Mount Prospect Dentist
Like everything else that concerns your kids, taking care of their oral health is a full-time job. The schedule of oral hygiene that the routine recommended by our Mount Prospect Dentist recommends for adults also applies to your child.
Helping your child develop a regular routine of proper brushing and flossing after meals and at bedtime will build a foundation for a lifetime of sound oral hygiene practices. Of course, even though there are similarities, oral health care for your kids has some important differences.
Protecting the Health of Primary Teeth
While your child’s baby teeth are developing, their permanent teeth are already forming under the gumline. Following good oral health care for your toddler now plays an important part in the development of healthy adult teeth.
As a toddler, your child should already be receiving routine preventive dental care. The Mount Prospect Dentist will assess your child’s current dental health and recommend proper at-home oral health care routines.
Parent Involvement Is Essential
However, as a parent, there are things you should do as well between dental visits, to protect your toddler’s teeth:
- Enjoy healthy food choices. Choosing a variety of healthy fruits and vegetables to serve is good for the entire body, especially your toddler’s developing teeth.
- As toddlers grow and begin to gain some independence, they will enjoy feeding themselves. Remember that frequent exposure to sugary or even healthy fruit drinks can lead to tooth decay. Offer water instead and encouraging brushing between snacks whenever possible.
- Maintain a regular routine of brushing and flossing. Toddlers will enjoy the independence of brushing their own teeth at least once a day. If your child’s efforts are not perfect, that’s okay. Simply introducing the idea and maintaining a routine will send an important message to your child.
- Prevent your child from eating fluoridated toothpaste to prevent damage to the developing permanent teeth. Look for training toothpaste for children who have not yet learned to spit after brushing.
Please Call Us to Arrange an Appointment
If you have questions or concerns about your child’s oral health care, please contact our dentist office for more information.