What You Need To Do To Keep Your Kids' Teeth Healthy
We see it a lot in our practice. That concerned look on a mom's face when their child is having their teeth cleaned. First question, "Are their any cavities?". Did you know that the average number of teaspoons of sugar consumed a day by a child is 32! There is a rising trend in cavities amongst children and we see it everyday in our office. Here are some things you can do to give your kids a great chance at good dental health and help you relax while you are in the waiting room.Be a great example: Your kids are aware of everything you say and do and that includes how you take care of your teeth. They notice how often you brush and floss your teeth. Make healthy snack choices and you can even chew sugarless gum after meals.
Bring them in early and often: The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry recommends a dental check up once your child has their first tooth. Having a dentist check their teeth often can help find problems early on, while they are small. Know that baby teeth are actually more prone to cavities then adult teeth.
Get your own teeth fixed!: Tooth decay and gum disease are infections caused by bacteria that can be transmitted in a similar fashion to a cold. These bugs are almost always transmitted from mother to child, or from any prominent child care provider, for that matter. People who have lots of untreated cavities will have
nastier bugs and you'll probably transfer them to your kids. Not taking care of your our teeth will also teach your child that oral health care is not that important.
Don't put a baby down with a bottle: You don't want to get your baby in the habit of going to bed with a bottle-it will be more difficult to break the habit. More importantly, the formula or breast milk contains sugar that can be turned into acid which causes tooth decay. This can potentially lead to massive tooth decay in children. Only water in bottles at night.
Help them brush their teeth, then have them brush their own teeth: While it seems like a great thing to let your kids gain independence by having them brush their own teeth, you NEED to brush their teeth. Know that, if you can't see what your brushing, your not brushing them well. Some will resist, but it is important to hold their head. And until they can spit on their own, you want to be using a non-flouride toothpaste so that they aren't swallowing toothpaste that can damage their permanent teeth.
Reduce the juice: Too many parents consider fruit juice as wholesome and healthy. We see it as high acid content with tons of sugar. It's really tough on teeth and has so much added sugar. Eating fruit is a much better option. Never give fruit juice at snack time!
If you implement the above suggestions you can significantly reduce your children's risk factors for cavities! It's a gift to your children and to yourself when they are in the chair having their teeth cleaned!
If you have any questions on how to keep your children's teeth healthy, visit us at www.klfamilydental.com
