Dental care is one of the most essential yet underrated types of care you can give your body. Brushing and flossing daily is imperative, along with regular visits to the dentist. However, many people often neglect their teeth and only consider seeking medical help when the issue worsens. Moreover, parents often struggle with providing proper dental care to their children, especially young babies.
Children are more likely to get cavities and gum disease because of the amount of junk food in their diet. They are reluctant to brush their teeth while flossing is out of the question entirely. While it is true that dental care for children is a whole other feat, it is not something impossible.
As far as babies are concerned, doctors recommend cleaning their gums twice a day with a wet cloth before the first teeth appear. This will prevent gum-related problems from developing and can improve the chances of your baby growing healthy, cavity-free teeth. Once the teeth do start coming in, you can use a soft bristle brush to brush them twice a day to prevent cavities. As your child grows, introduce fluoride toothpaste.
Fluoride helps with preventing cavities. There are many ways you can try to ensure your child’s teeth get fluoride. One of which is having fluoride tap water in your home. Studies have shown that children who regularly drink fluoride tap water are less likely to develop cavities.
Moreover, fluoride can also be applied to your child’s teeth by the dentist through a fluoride varnish. These varnishes are most commonly used for baby teeth and have been proven to prevent more than 33% of cavities in young children.
As your child grows, you can shift to dental sealants. These are applied to the back of the teeth on the chewing surfaces and can prevent up to 80% of cavities.
While there are many medical treatments and procedures that you can make your child undergo in order to give them proper dental care, it is most important to pay attention to the little things that go a long way. These include:
- Teaching your kid how to brush and then watching them until they are skilled enough to do it on their own. Make sure they are using a pea-sized amount of toothpaste on their brush and are spitting it out instead of swallowing it.
- Restricting the consumption of too much junk food and sugar
- Pay regular visits to the dentist regardless of whether you think something is wrong or not. Sometimes, a professional can help us point out a problem before it occurs. It is always better to be safe than sorry.
And if you’re looking for a dentist for your children, RiverEdge Bradford is the place for you. A dental clinic provides all the services you need in one place. Known for its amazing hospitality, RiverEdge Bradford is one of the three clinics under RiverEdge Dental. Their commitment to providing the best care for every single one of their patients is outstanding, and their staff is highly qualified.