Are you worried about your little one’s oral health? If you are, good for you. As you can probably guess, if your child has clean, healthy teeth while they’re young, they’ll probably develop healthy habits that can last for years to come. But, what can you do to help your little one develop these healthy habits?
When you think of the worst thing for a child’s teeth, what’s the first thing that comes to your mind? If you thought of sugar, you aren’t alone. Still, the concept of keeping sweets away from their children is difficult for some to accept, but remember, your children are not born with a sweet tooth—even when the opposite seems true. If you give your child too much sugar, they may have to cope with tooth decay which can lead to even more problems.
Clearly one of the first things you should do is limit the limit the amount of sugar your child has in a day. Despite what you may believe, your child is not born with a sweet tooth. In fact, most children will generally accept homemade, nutritious foods when they are around six months old.
Similarly, to keep your child’s teeth healthy, please avoid giving them a bottle when its time to sleep. Doing so can rot your little one’s teeth very quickly, leading to a variety of future oral health problems. In other words, try giving your child a bottle when they are awake and alert. If your child must have a bottle to sleep, try filling it with water.
Finally, try to make oral care fun. Give your child flavored toothpaste and fun toothbrush. Scare tactics will probably not be effective. Instead try to help your child appreciate what good oral health will do for them. Teach them to brush and floss properly by doing so yourself.
If you would like to learn more, or are interested in scheduling an appointment with Dr. Ryan Bailey , please feel free to contact Open Door Family Dentistry at 541-479-5505.