Early Education about Children's Dentistry Beneficial for a Child

Early Education about Children's Dentistry Beneficial for a Child

Feb 01, 2020

If the number one dental problem among children is tooth decay wouldn’t it be beneficial to provide the child early education of children’s dentistry? Teaching the child proper dental habits is the best way to protect his or her teeth. Parents must exercise plenty of patience when coaching their children about the benefits of adopting good oral hygiene as part of their daily routine. The child will undoubtedly frustrate the parent because they will be unable to concentrate on their teeth. Therefore, parents are suggested to supervise the child and help them to remove all the plaque that may have accumulated on their teeth. Let us look at why children must be educated about children’s dentistry.

Facts about Children’s Dental Health

  • 10 percent of two-year-olds already have more than one cavity in their mouths.
  • 28 percent of three-year-olds have one or more cavities in their mouths.
  • Approximately 50 percent of children by the age of five have one or more cavities that need attention.

Parents cannot assume that cavities in baby teeth are harmless because the baby teeth will fall off anyway. Unfortunately, the assumption can negatively affect the permanent teeth of the child and lead dental problems in the future.

How Can Parents Educate Their Child about Children’s Dentistry?

Parents that are confused, do not have the time, or frustrated are recommended to visit the children’s dentist in Heath to understand how they can impart education about children’s dentistry to their child. The dentist will provide them with a comprehensive range of tips that the parents can get the child to adopt. The dentist would have provided the parent with the following information:

Tooth Brushing

The child should be taught to brush his or her teeth as soon as they begin erupting in the mouth at least twice a day with a grain size fluoride toothpaste using a child-size toothbrush with soft bristles. These brushes are designed to address the various needs of children of all ages and toothpaste suitable for the child must be selected.

The Quantity of Toothpaste

By the age of three, the child should be provided with a pea-sized quantity of fluoride toothpaste which can help to prevent cavities. If the child does not like the flavor it can be changed. The child must be taught not to swallow the toothpaste but to rinse and spit it. Swallowing fluoride toothpaste can leave brown or white spots on a child’s permanent teeth.

Brushing Motion

Parents are likely to hear different advice about how children should be brushing their teeth. Some will suggest a circular motion while others may recommend a back-and-forth motion. However, none of these matters as long as every tooth is thoroughly cleaned from top and bottom and inside out. This is where the child is likely to frustrate the parent because they will be concentrating on their front teeth that are visible. Parents need to be imaginative at this stage and use various strategies to get the child to brush all around the mouth. Supervision is essential because children cannot brush their teeth until they are older. Therefore parents must be patient and supervise the child every time they are brushing.

Avoiding Too Much Sugar

The children’s dentist near the Rockwall area will recommend that the child’s diet is also important besides the brushing and the proper quantity of fluoride toothpaste. Sticky foods such as caramel, gum, toffee, dried fruits are particularly harmful because they can stay in the mouth and bathe the teeth with sugars that have the potential to cause harmful damage. After a child has sugary foods they must be supervised to brush to remove the sugars. Keeping the child away from sugary beverages is also suggested.

Regular Dental Checkups

During regular dental checkups the dentist in children’s dentistry in Heath, TX, will check the teeth and gums of the child to ensure they are healthy. If any problems are noticed the child may be referred to a pediatric dentist or periodontist or even a general dentist who can attend to the dental needs of children. All children must be visiting a pediatric dentist recommends the American Academy of Pediatrics & the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry. The visits must be by age 1.

As part of a regular dental check-up, the dentist will ensure all the teeth are developing normally and there are no dental problems before providing the parent with additional advice on proper dental hygiene.

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