Make Oral Health A Priority for Your Children

Oral health is closely tied to the health of the entire body. This is true for children just as much as it is true for adults. Making sure that your children have the best oral health will ensure that they have great smiles that last for life.

Oral health must be made a priority at home. From the very first tooth that erupts inside your child’s mouth, proper oral hygiene must be made a priority. It is a huge mistake to think that baby teeth do not affect the health of permanent teeth. Even though baby teeth will fall out within a few years, these teeth hold a place for your child’s permanent teeth. It is essential that your child has a healthy mouth when the permanent teeth arrive!

As a parent, it is your job to teach your children to take care of their teeth. Children do not naturally know how to brush well or how to floss, and they will certainly skip out on both of these if given the opportunity to do so. The best way to encourage your child to have proper oral hygiene is to model it for them. Allowing your children to floss and brush their teeth in your bathroom will let them watch you and learn how to care for their teeth. It will take time to teach how to correctly hold a toothbrush, how long to brush, and how to floss – but it is worth it. Parents who take an active role in their own oral health and who allow their children to be active observers are more likely to raise children who make their oral health a priority.

On top of teaching your child to brush his teeth twice a day and floss daily, there are other things you can do to help your child maintain strong teeth and healthy gums:

• Take your child to the dentist at an early age. Once children reach the age of two, they should begin seeing the dentist twice a year. Not only will this help your child become comfortable at the dentist’s office, but it will give your dentist a baseline for your child’s oral health.
• Be sure your child gets enough fluoride. If you have fluoride in your drinking water, good. If not, there are supplements that you can use. In addition, make sure your child is brushing with a fluoride toothpaste.
• Feed your child a healthy diet. A diet laden with sugar is detrimental to your child’s overall health and oral health. Make sure your child eats plenty of fruits and vegetables, lean meats, and whole grains. It is especially important to limit sugary drinks.

Making oral health a priority for your children is important. Early steps in oral health will prevent issues in the future. Start encouraging those habits now by contacting Engineered Smiles.