If you are a parent, then making sure your children have proper oral health habits is the best way to prevent numerous expensive diseases like cavities, gingivitis, and halitosis. Unfortunately, children are prone to develop several bad oral care habits, but you can teach them a few to avoid with a bit of patience and reminders.
Not Wearing a Protective Dental Guard
Children should wear a customized dental guard while playing sports to prevent chips or cracks to their teeth’s enamel surfaces. A dental guard can also help to avoid a dislocated tooth during contact sports or from flying projectiles such as hockey pucks. If it doesn’t come standard with the equipment provided, think about getting some.
Drinking Too Many Sugary Drinks
Too much sugar from soft drinks and juice can lead to dental decay and gum disease. Bacteria thrive in a sugary environment, and children who consume large amounts of apple juice or soft drinks risk developing numerous cavities.
Sticking Hard Objects inside the Mouth
Hard objects such as pencils can damage the enamel on teeth, leading to cracks and chips that require a cosmetic repair. After an infant’s first teeth begin to erupt, it is a good idea to wean them from a pacifier that can shift teeth into the wrong positions. Older children should avoid fingernail-biting or thumb-sucking to prevent malocclusions of the teeth.
Eating a Poor Diet on a Daily Basis
Children need to eat a balanced daily diet of lean protein, whole grains, and calcium-rich foods along with fresh vegetables and fruit. It is a good idea to avoid foods that do not offer a lot of nutrition such as potato chips, ice cream, and candy.
Forgetting to Floss Teeth Each Night
A young child can learn how to floss their teeth properly each night to remove additional food debris that collects along the bottoms of their teeth. Parents can find a variety of styles of floss such as bubble gum or grape flavored to encourage their children to floss without an argument. Ask a Valley Oak Dental Group Inc what brands of toothpaste, floss, or other products they might recommend.
Using an Old Toothbrush
Most dentists recommend changing a toothbrush three or four times a year to have one that has firm bristles that will remove food debris. Because children grow quickly, buying a new toothbrush is frequently necessary in order to have one that is the proper size for their mouth. After a child has a cold or influenza, it is a good plan to replace a toothbrush because it is contaminated with bacteria.
Failing to Visit a Dentist Twice a Year
A child should begin to visit a dentist as a toddler to become accustomed to having examinations. A routine examination is necessary at least every six months to have plaque removed from between the teeth and to have small cavities filled.
One of the best ways to ensure a child has proper oral health care habits is by setting a good example. Parents must remember to brush their teeth twice a day, floss each night, and consume a healthy diet to encourage their children to do the same thing.
Indeed, chewing on pencils and such can be so bad for your teeth. If you want the dentist to say you have good teeth, or your kids have good teeth, don’t bite things that aren’t really meant to be bitten. Otherwise you may instead be going in for some repair work.