If your child’s first tooth has erupted, it’s time to start caring for your child’s smile! In order to help your child grow into the healthy, functional, strong, and beautiful smile they deserve, we recommend using these four tips to your child’s advantage:
1. Bring your child in for their first checkup: Your child’s first dental appointment is very important. When you bring your child into our office, our dental team will be able to create a life-long relationship with them, which will help your child feel more comfortable in the dental chair in the future. This appointment will also give you the chance to ask your dentist any questions you have about your child’s dental care.
2. Teach your child good oral hygiene habits: Teach your child the best oral hygiene routine by showing them how to brush, floss, and rinse. The more you show your child what they need to do, the faster they will learn and understand. If you teach them at a young age, they will remember the importance of oral hygiene as they grow older.
3. Avoid Baby Bottle Tooth Decay: You can avoid this condition by putting your child to sleep with a bottle of water instead of a bottle of juice, milk, or formula. When your child goes to sleep with a bottle full of sugary liquid, the sugar clings to their teeth and gives the bacteria the ammo it needs to create tooth decay. However, sugary drinks are OK in moderation—just keep an eye on how much your child consumes throughout the day.
4. Control the use of a sippy cup: Sippy cups are very beneficial, but they can cause trouble if they are used too often, especially if they are filled with juice. The sippy cup can create tooth decay in the back of your child’s front teeth, which is very painful and dangerous.
If you would like more tips on how to improve the health of your child’s smile, we encourage you to call our office today and talk to a member of our friendly dental team! We look forward to talking with you.