How to Keep your Child’s Teeth Healthy

According to statistics, twenty eight percent of children ages 2 to 5 have cavities in their baby teeth. This is scary especially to those parents who neglect their children’s teeth and has the wrong impression about taking care of their child’s teeth. Here is some vital information that parents sometimes care less:

1.0 Keep a healthy diet. Children love sweet foods and it is also good for their body. However, too much sugar and starch creates acids that dissolve the tooth’s structure which can cause cavities, besides the greater chance of being obese. Process snacks are the best source of tooth decay while the best friends of your child’s tooth are fruits and vegetables. Fluoridate drinking water is advisable for kids 2 years old and up.

2.0 The toothbrush. Kids should brush at least twice a day and, ideally, after snacking, too. But the most effective way is before sleeping. This is when production of saliva is slow, which gives acid less chance to damage the teeth. Electric toothbrushes are also helpful especially to children under 4 years old, who are not yet capable of brushing his teeth well. However, the more important thing is that the toothbrush reaches the back of the mouth. With this, children under 6 years old still need assistance from parents.

3.0 The toothpaste. For kids who do not know yet how to spit properly, non-fluoridated toothpaste should be used. This is because too much swallowing of fluoride can cause stains on the enamel of permanent teeth. It is also advisable that the toothpaste have attractive flavors for kids to enjoy more. A pea-size drop of toothpaste is just enough for kids. Moreover, it is the proper way of brushing that is more important rather than the toothpaste.

4.0 The dentist. Babies within the six months after his first tooth appearance should already visit the dentist, and every 6 months continuously. This is very important since your baby’s teeth should be monitored closely as he is growing. The dentist will give advises about the correct way of brushing his teeth and other prevention care.

This is an excerpt from Meagan Francis’ article entitled Caring for Your Child’s Teeth and you may visit American Dentist Association’ official website.

Article Source:Effective Parenting Tips