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Teaching Your Children About the Dentist

Tactics For Preventing Cavities And Toothaches In Your Child

27 December 2018

Alfred Kelley

If you suffered with toothaches when you were a child, you'll probably do anything to spare your own child that kind of pain. By helping your child have good oral hygiene for the first few years of life, you can reduce the risk of cavities and toothaches. Young children aren't able to brush effectively by themselves, so while they should brush in order to learn, you'll also need to help to make sure all food is removed from between the teeth. Here are some other tips for preventing tooth decay and toothaches in your child.

Avoid Sharing Bacteria

Tooth decay is caused by bacteria, and the primary way a baby gets this type of bacteria is when it is spread from the saliva of caregivers. When you kiss your baby or share a spoon, you can transfer some of the bacteria in your saliva that causes tooth decay to your child. Therefore, one important way to protect your child is to have healthy teeth yourself. Maintain good oral hygiene and have cavities and gum disease treated promptly. You won't want to stop kissing your baby or sharing drinks and foods, so controlling bacteria in your mouth is important.

Take Your Child To A Pediatric Dentist Early

Choose a pediatric dentist for your child so your child has a pleasant dental experience and gets used to a dental office and procedures from a young age. You should make a dental appointment when your child has the first tooth come in or around one year of age. The dentist will check your child's oral health, but just as important, you'll be educated on the proper care of your child's new teeth and how to prevent cavities. The dentist will answer all your questions about what to do when your child has teething pain and how much toothpaste to use. When you work with your dentist to ensure your child has healthy teeth, the risk of tooth decay is even lower.

Start Dental Care Before Teeth Come In

Keep your baby's gums clean and get him or her used to dental care by gently washing their gums a couple of times a day with water and a washcloth. This keeps natural sugars off of the gums from breast milk, formula, and juice. Once the teeth start to erupt, continue to wipe them with a washcloth until your dentist advises you on how much toothpaste to use, the type of brush to use, and the technique for brushing a toddler's teeth.

Limit Sugary And Sticky Foods

Start your child on a healthy diet as soon as they're old enough to start eating. If they have sweets or juice, give them during mealtimes and avoid sugary and sticky snacks. A healthy diet promotes a healthy body and teeth. Sugar encourages bacterial growth and sticky food is hard to remove from the teeth, so they should be limited as much as possible.

Starting your child on a program of good oral care while they're a baby is important for preventing cavities, but it's also important for establishing a habit and routine that will last for life and protect their teeth through adulthood. When brushing and flossing are routine from a very young age, you'll hopefully have less fussing and better cooperation as your child gets older.

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