Are You Doing Enough for Your Kids’ Dental Care?

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As moms, we all know our kids’ dental care is important. But did you know it is never too early to start prioritizing your kid’s dental care? The average newborn baby has twenty primary baby teeth in their jaw which usually begin to push through the gums around 4 to 6 months of age. By the time a child turns three years old, he/she will typically have a full set of primary teeth, which need help to prevent decay.

dental care

Here are a few easy tips to provide the best dental care for your children:

  1. Avoid filling feeding bottles with sweetened water, fruit juice, or soft drinks. Put only plain water, formula, milk, or breast milk in bottles to avoid tooth decay.
  2. Always clean your baby’s gums and teeth before bedtime, and never put your baby to bed with a bottle, even if it’s just breast milk or formula.
  3. Do not dip pacifiers in sugar or honey, always give them plain and clean.
  4. Avoid using the same spoon as your child. Sharing eating utensils can transfer cavity-causing bacteria that causes tooth decay.
  5. Have children 3 to 6 years-old brush their teeth with a pea-sized amount of fluoride toothpaste.

Tip: Keep those baby teeth!

It is usually considered a special moment when your child loses their first tooth. They wait in anticipation for the Tooth Fairy to come and get their baby tooth, leaving behind a few coins in return. Some moms choose to keep that first lost tooth as a remembrance and tend to discard the ones that follow, however, doctors and scientists are encouraging parents to hang on to ALL the baby teeth. The reason for this is because there are stem cells in teeth that can potentially save their lives down the road. Stem cells have been shown to treat diseases like Parkinson’s, Alzheimer’s, and even certain types of cancer. There are many organizations specializing in storing baby teeth properly and safely for future medical use.

The first dental visit

Dentists recommend children have their first dental visit around their first birthday. Seeing a dentist for the first time in a dental clinic with strange instruments can be scary for even the calmest toddler. Here are a few things to consider when making that first dental care appointment:

  1. Find a child-friendly dentist to develop trust and encourage a willingness to participate. Call your dental insurance agent to gather information about trusted dentists for kids in your network and ask about other concerns such as dental costs and benefits.
  2. Before the dental visit, make sure your toddler understands why they need to see the dentist. Use simple words to describe the benefits of having a healthy set of teeth. Talk to your child about what’s going to happen so they know what to expect.
  3. As mom of a first-timer, you should be in the room with your child to lessen their anxiety and to make sure everything goes smoothly.
  4. Bring your child’s favorite stuffed animal or toy to help make him/her feel comfortable and secure. 
  5. Most dental clinics give prizes once the procedure is over. If they don’t, have a special treat ready like stickers, crayons, and key chains to serve as a reward for a job well done.

Set a good example

Our kids look to us as examples on everything we tell them to do. As moms encouraging our kids to have healthy teeth, we too should take care of ours. This means we show them we have good oral hygiene on our own and go to the dentist as well. So, go ahead, make that dental care appointment. After all, healthy teeth are vital to our overall health.