How To Maintain Children’s Oral Health
As a parent, you want to ensure every aspect of your kid’s health is perfect, and this includes his/her oral health. If you are concerned that your children aren’t brushing their teeth appropriately, you might want to give the Oreo test a try!
According to dental experts, if your kid consumes an Oreo and brushes their teeth thereafter, but you can still the Oreos, then it’s high time you start helping your kid brush their pearly whites.
Your mouth is a very important part of your body, and this is why you should always strive to ensure your kid’s oral health is in great shape at all times. And for kids, good oral hygiene and having good oral health, in general, is key as it lays the groundwork for other numerous crucial milestones. This includes acquiring enough nutrition to grow healthy bodies, developing and growing teeth to learn how to pronounce syllables appropriately, and establishing the much-needed self-confidence at an important time of self-development.
To enhance oral hygiene among their children, parents must help their kids to choose healthy snacks, get enough amounts of fluoride and ensure they are drinking adequate amounts of water. In this regard, water is arguably the most important of all, bearing in that it plays a vital role in promoting overall dental health.
Water not only plays a role in hydrating the body but equally makes your kid’s teeth stronger. As a result, it’s a healthier option compared to both soda and juice.
According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, children should never drink more than four ounces of juice daily! And when it comes to choosing good snacks for your kids, it’s highly recommended that you should go for fresh fruits and vegetables, cheese, and deli meat.
When it comes to brushing your teeth, we are aware that it can be a challenging task. And for kids, teeth cleaning can even be a more difficult task to execute. Because their motor skills are still in the development phase, most kids will find it very hard to effectively brush their teeth.
And while it can be an exciting experience seeing your child taking control of their lives by doing things by themselves, let us not forget that when it comes to health, you have an obligation to supervise your kid’s activities, and this includes watching closely how they clean their teeth. Even though It’s usually great for children to begin brushing their teeth on their own, always take your time as a parent to check for any missed spots.
Good oral health starts with choosing the right toothbrush for your kid. In this regard, the best toothbrush for any child is the one that features fairly soft bristles. In case you didn’t know, soft bristles conform more easily to the many grooves in your teeth, preventing the gums from wearing away.
It is worth noting that not every child appreciates the feeling of an electric toothbrush. So, you should only give your kid one if you are pretty certain he/she will like it.
But most importantly, ensure that your kid brushes their teeth at least two times per day, with quality toothpaste that features fluoride. And finally, you must take your child to the dentist for their inaugural dental appointment, for what is popularly known as the dental age one!
For more information regarding your dental health, please give Dr. Apsey of Smile Brightly Dental a call today! We are located in Warren, MI and we can be reached at 586-573-7700!