A dentist for children is a specially trained professional who can help you take proper care of your child’s oral health. Nonetheless, there are things you can do at home to ensure your child’s oral health. In this article, we discuss how to prevent cavities in children.
How To Prevent Cavities in Children
There are several steps you can take to prevent cavities and tooth decay in your child:
Educate Your Child About the Importance of Oral Hygiene
There are many methods how to educate your child on the importance of oral hygiene and regular dental visits. You can use educational picture books, play games with your child, and choose fun oral hygiene tools and toothpaste specially designed for children. When explaining something, use simple, child-friendly words and positive reinforcement. Never tell off or threaten your child with dental appointments if they do not brush their teeth properly, as it will create dental anxiety.
Teach Your Child to Brush and Floss Their Teeth Properly
You can ask your pediatric dentist to show your child proper brushing and flossing techniques or teach them yourself. The most crucial point is to help your child build proper hygiene habits they will have for the rest of their life. Your dentist can also recommend what toothbrush and toothpaste to choose. If flossing proves challenging for your child, consider using a water flosser.
Take Your Child to Regular Dental Appointments
Regular dental appointments are essential even if your child still has temporary teeth. Pediatric dentists recommend having the first appointment as soon as the first teeth appear and then continuing to visit the dentist for checkups and cleanings every six months. Constantly monitoring the health of the teeth and the development of the jaw will help avoid any potential issues.
On top of that, during professional dental cleanings, your pediatric dentist will remove plaque and tartar—the leading causes of cavities. As a last step of every cleaning, your child will also get fluoride treatment that will help strengthen the enamel of the teeth and make them more resistant to bacteria.
Establish a Proper Diet for Your Child
The food your child eats is their primary source of vitamins and minerals that are important for the health of their teeth and entire body. Make sure your child eats enough of the following:
- Vegetables and fruits are rich in fiber. According to the research, foods that contain fiber can help maintain clean teeth and gums. Secondly, such foods prompt saliva production. Saliva, in turn, helps reduce the negative effect of acid from other foods and beverages and strengthens teeth’s natural resistance to bacteria.
- Dairy products, such as cheese or cottage cheese, non-sweetened yogurt, milk, etc., are rich in calcium and minerals, which are the primary building materials for strong teeth and bones.
- Green and black teas contain polyphenols that can make the bacteria on teeth less active and prevent them from growing.
- Foods high in proteins, such as meat, beans, nuts, etc., support tissue growth and the general strength of the whole body.
Try to have your child avoid foods that are damaging to teeth. These are mostly foods that contain sugar, such as candies, sweet pastries, soda, etc. Also, foods and beverages that contain a lot of acid might be harmful to the enamel, weakening the protective barrier of the teeth.
Why Is Oral Health in Children Important?
Most people do not know that oral health can influence the health of the whole body, mood, energy levels, and even cognitive function. Below, we list several reasons why it is essential to take thorough care of your child’s oral health:
- Infections in the mouth can negatively affect such organs as the heart, lungs, joints, and gastrointestinal system.
- Chronic pain caused by cavities can make your child stressed, anxious, and inattentive.
- Toothache can make your child reluctant to eat hard-to-chew foods that are necessary for their development, such as meats, vegetables, nuts, etc., thus leading to malnutrition.
- Cavities and decay can lead to premature baby tooth loss, which will cause orthodontic issues in the future.
- Tooth decay and gum disease in childhood can undermine the oral health of your child for the rest of their life, preventing proper development of the jawbone and the permanent teeth.
Make an Appointment Today
Do not hesitate to make an appointment at a friendly pediatric dentistry practice in Irvine today. Our specialists are trained to work with children and will ensure a stress-free environment so your child can grow to love the dentist.