7 Incredible Dental Health Tips for Toddlers

Toddlers require proper nourishment to keep growing. The teeth aids in the digestion of food by breaking it down into easily digestible pieces and preparing it for the best absorption of nutrients. Teeth also provide the structure to a face and also serve a vital part in communication. The primary teeth of toddlers help to make the space for the permanent teeth to grow in your mouth.

The first primary teeth typically appear in toddlers between 6 and 10 months of age. The order in which they grow can also vary. The ultimate goal of parents must be to keep the teeth of their toddlers from acquiring cavities and decay. You can easily keep the teeth of your toddlers healthy and bright by following these seven incredible dental health tips in this article.

7 Incredible Dental Health Tips For Toddlers

1. Get Regular Checkups

Regular checkups with your pediatric dentist will allow for the early detection of cavities and decay of the teeth of your toddler. You can then take corrective measures according to the advice of the dentist to remedy the situation. The dentist might use advanced crown pediatrics to affix dental crowns for the teeth of your toddler

Unsplash Photography

The dentist will enquire about the oral care of your toddlers at home and advise on best practices. You must ensure that you get the first dental checkup for your toddler by the time they reach one year of age. According to a report by the CDC, the dental treatment costs over 5 years for children who consult with a dentist before the age of 5 is lower by 40 percent.

2. Brushing And Flossing

Healthy oral habits such as brushing and flossing need to start when your child is still a toddler. You can use a child-size toothbrush with soft bristles for brushing the teeth of your child. You can use plain water on the toothbrush for brushing or a small dab of toothpaste that does not contain fluoride in it.

It is toxic for children to use fluoride toothpaste as they may swallow it while brushing. You may switch to a fluoride toothpaste once your child is old enough to know how to spit. You will need to help your child with brushing until they are 7 to 8 years old and can brush on their own. Flossing is also vital for keeping the teeth of your child healthy and sparkling.

3. Follow A Healthy Diet

Children who regularly eat and drink food with high sugar content are at a higher risk of getting cavities. Avoid giving your child sweet drinks, fruit juice and carbonated drinks which tend to contain plenty of additional sugar. Reduce the number of sweet snacks your child consumes in a day.

Unsplash Photography

Ensure that your child brushes their teeth after eating sugary food and beverages. Chewing gum is hazardous for toddlers as they may swallow it. However, it is beneficial for older kids as it strengthens the jaw, stimulates the p[roduction of saliva and washes away food particles. Use a chewing gum without sugar if possible as the sugar content can promote cavities on teeth.

4. Prevent Baby Bottle Decay

You may often put your toddler to a nap or sleep while providing them milk, fruit juice or formula to drink in a baby bottle. Babies and toddlers then go to sleep with the bottle in their mouth while drinking it.

These sugary liquids are hazardous to teeth health as they tend to stick to the teeth and feed the bacteria which in turn causes cavity formation. Ensure that you only fill the baby bottle with clean drinking water when you put your toddler to sleep.

5. Avoid Sweet Medicine

The medicine for children is generally sweet and contains flavor to encourage children to drink it. However, they stick to the teeth since they contain sugar and cause the formation of cavities and tooth decay. Asthma medications and antibiotics encourage the growth of Candida, a yeast. This increases the chance of acquiring oral thrush, a fungal infection.

6. Ensure Mouth Safety

Safety is a crucial part of dental hygiene and you need to protect the teeth of your child from injuries while playing. You can use soft plastic retainers that cover the teeth and lips if there is a danger of injury. Ensure that your toddler stops sucking their thumb as it can cause misalignment of teeth.

7. Lead By Example

Children like to imitate what adults do, especially their parents and so you must set a good precedent for your children to follow. Be patient with your child but stand firm on doing healthy oral practices every day. Motivate your child to follow healthy oral hygiene and provide incentives to encourage them.

Conclusion

Dental health is a gateway to good overall health and making healthy dental habits as a routine will ensure that your child will have better overall health. Eating an excess of sweet confectioneries, candies, and fizzy beverages will undermine your efforts for maintaining the pearly white teeth of your toddler.

According to a study by the California Society Of Pediatric Dentistry, when you do not treat the dental disease of your child, it compromises their ability to sleep well, eat well, and function normally at school and at home. It even affects the social development and self-esteem of the child which can affect them for years to come. Keeping the teeth and gums of your toddler clean is the easiest way of keeping their teeth healthy.