The Cutest Smiles Around

There’s something special about a child’s smile. Even before that first tooth comes in and their grin is all gums, it has a way of melting your heart. Then comes that very first tooth, and you are thrown into the craziness of teething to finally a mouth full of perfect teeth. Even when our little ones begin to lose those baby teeth, the gappy grin is arguably the cutest thing ever.

Of course, we want to do everything we can to protect those teeth and help our kids have healthy smiles for life. One of the best ways to do that is to start healthy oral habits early on, like brushing twice a day, flossing, and going to the dentist every six months for a cleaning. But even if we are doing that already, how can we be sure that we are doing enough to keep their teeth shining and healthy? That’s where we come in.

You aren’t alone when it comes to managing your child’s oral health. You have an entire team behind you every step of the way—and that team is Pediatric Dental Specialists. We believe that it is important to work together to keep smiles as healthy as possible.

Healthy Habits at Home

There are some seemingly simple rules for keeping a child’s teeth healthy. First, brush them for two minutes twice a day, then floss at least once. The general consensus is that you need to do this for your child until they are around six years old. But let’s face it, doing this isn’t always as simple as we expected. Life gets in the way, toddlers throw tantrums, and those things sometimes slip our minds. We get it, we’re human.

That’s when making it a habit helps. At first, this can feel a little tricky. But keep it up! For some people, setting an alarm helps them remember. For others, creating a fun sticker chart does the trick. After all, if you give a kid a sticker after you brush their teeth, they will remember, even when you don’t.

Outside of that daily oral hygiene routine, there are some things you can do to protect those teeth. Do what you can to get your kiddo to drink water. Getting that H2O into their bodies keeps them hydrated, sure, but it also helps whisk away some of that hidden bacteria. Remember, this isn’t a replacement for brushing their teeth, but it does help.

Try to get them to eat a relatively healthy, low-sugar diet to protect their teeth. Sugar is one of the fastest ways to get cavities, as it interacts with the mouth’s natural bacteria and starts munching away at the enamel. Now, this doesn’t mean that you need to cut out sugar entirely, just limit it where you can. Moderation is key!

The Role of Regular Dental Visits

In addition to that regular oral hygiene routine, keeping up with your child’s biannual dental appointments will work wonders with cavity prevention. You might be asking yourself, “Do I really need to take my kiddos to the dentist every six months?” Yes, that’s the best way to prevent those cavities!

The dental team’s goal at these appointments is to prevent anything from going wrong with their oral health. The best way to do that is to catch any problems before they have a chance to settle in. Ideally, it means the problem won’t have the opportunity to occur at all!

Education and Encouragement

One of the benefits of making oral hygiene a healthy habit in your child’s life is that it teaches them to care for their teeth as they grow. This, along with taking them to their dental appointments regularly, helps encourage positive attitudes toward the dentist and their team. They will learn that we are there to help them be as healthy as possible!

Another way to help your child learn more about their oral health is to try out some fun games! These can vary in difficulty from flossing Legos to creating stories while brushing their teeth. For example, the tooth brush can be on a hunt to save the princess, but in the process it has to slay all the dragons—the plaque and tartar on their teeth. Don’t be afraid to get silly with it. The crazier it is, the more likely it will create fun and lasting memories!

You’re not alone.

When taking care of children, there’s a lot to watch out for. After all, they aren’t always the best at keeping themselves safe. With how crazy life can be, the care of their teeth can sometimes slip, but that’s why you aren’t alone in the journey to keeping your child’s teeth healthy. We here at Pediatric Dental Specialists are with you every step of the way.

If your little one is in need of their regular cleaning, be sure to get it on the calendar! We look forward to helping you build those lifelong habits!