How To Protect Your Child’s Teeth: 5 Simple Tips

pediatric dentist checking cavities
By Island Dental

As per the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, children are at a high risk of developing dental cavities. It can affect their personal lives and even their education.

Cavities (also known as caries or tooth decay) are one of the most common chronic diseases of childhood in the United States. Untreated cavities can cause pain and infections that may lead to problems with eating, speaking, playing, and learning.

Moreover, about 20% of children in the US alone have at least 1 untreated decayed tooth. Do all these facts sound freaky? You’d be glad to know that cavities are preventable and it isn’t as hard as you think. Follow the 5 tips listed below to keep your child’s smile healthy in the long run:

1. Oral hygiene must not be compromised with

Starting off with something more obvious, you must ensure that your kid is brushing and flossing twice every day. Skipping brushing or flossing is the first step to developing dental cavities. Ideally, every child should brush for 2 minutes twice every day, and floss for at least 1 minute.

2. Check on their diet

Cavities are sped up by acidic foods. While it is not possible to completely cut off acidic foods from their diet, try to avoid them whenever possible. Read about foods and beverages that can cause tooth erosion to know which food items you should avoid giving your child.

3. Begin at an early age

Did you know that you should start cleaning your baby’s mouth as early as when they’re just 2 months old? Start taking your child to the dentist as soon as the first tooth erupts. This will help the kid get used to the establishment and in the future, they’ll likely feel more comfortable than others while visiting a dentist.

This is important since going to the dentist in childhood is crucial to prevent cavities. This brings us to:

4. Regular dental check-ups

Regular dental check-ups don’t necessarily mean that you will have to take your kid to the dentist every month. Ideally, you should take your dentist twice a year to monitor their dental health and prevent any oral issues from arising.

If finding a reliable pediatric dentist who your kid won’t dread going to is tough for you, you can check out the best pediatric dentist near you in Gilbert AZ.

5. Get dental sealants

Dental sealants are applied at the back teeth. What do they do? Dental sealants seal the pits at the back teeth and prevent food particles from getting stuck there. Thus, they eliminate the main source of cavities!

Apart from these factors, look into your kid’s thumb-sucking habits, fluoride intake levels, and even teeth grinding habits (if any) to keep their oral health in the best condition!

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