Royal Oak and Birmingham, MI
Good oral hygiene habits should be on the priority list for everyone, including children and babies. Unfortunately, nearly 42% of children ages 2 to 11 develop cavities in their teeth, even though tooth decay is preventable. Follow these tips so that your kids will have a cavity-free dental visit.
Oral care for babies
Parents often neglect their baby’s oral health, assuming gums do not need oral care. That could not be farther from the truth! Even baby’s gums need to be thoroughly cleaned by wiping them with a moist cloth after each feeding. Wiping your baby’s gums will remove bacteria and residue from their mouth.
Skip the bottle
At bedtime avoid allowing your baby to go to bed with a bottle filled with milk, juice, or breast milk. This would allow your child’s gums and teeth to be continuously coated in sugar, which is the main culprit of tooth decay. Fill the bottle with water instead, if your baby insists on having a bottle to help get to sleep.
Eat healthy
Getting your child to eat a healthy diet of fresh fruits and vegetables may be easier said than done. But, resist the urge to allow your child to snack on crackers, chips, and sweet treats throughout the day. Of course, the occasional treat will be had, that’s inevitable, in those cases just be sure that your child brushes his or her teeth immediately afterward.
Good oral hygiene
Children need good oral hygiene, even though they will eventually lose their baby teeth, which serve as an important part of their oral health. Children should brush their teeth twice a day and floss daily, just like adults. We recommend that you monitor your child’s oral hygiene habits until they can brush good enough on their own. Remember routine dental visits and exams, which should begin as soon as their first tooth erupts or by their first birthday.
For more information about children’s oral care, call the office of Hartrick Dentistry at (248) 549-0950 to schedule an evaluation today.
Hartrick Dentistry is proud to serve the oral health needs of patients in the areas of Royal Oak and Birmingham, Michigan.