Importance Of Dental Care For Children

Written By Wilson House Dental Practice / Reviewed By Ray Spotts

Teach your children good oral hygiene from regular brushing to flossing. Starting them young means setting a good foundation for their future. Besides, when your kids understand the responsibility of taking care of their teeth, they will have fewer oral problems as adults. Maintaining an oral routine means they keep their teeth free from decay and avoid other dental issues for the long haul.

Common Dental Problems in Kids 

When you understand the most common dental problems in children, you can prevent them from happening. Remember, children's teeth are more susceptible to damage because they're still growing, soft teeth. Besides, leaving damaged teeth untreated can lead to more serious complications. Here are the most common dental problems in kids: 

• Tooth Decay: This issue is the most typical problem in kids. Bacteria that live in the mouth are the primary culprit. They result in the sticky plaque build-up that eats tooth enamel. Thankfully, this is a preventable condition with proper brushing and regular prophylaxis treatment with your Dental Hygienist Milton Keynes. 

• Tooth Sensitivity: When your kids ingest extremely hot and cold items, they can feel discomfort and irritation. When tooth sensitivity occurs, you must take it seriously because it indicates that teeth enamel is worn out, gums are receding, or surfaces have cracked with exposed nerve endings. 

• Dental Emergencies: Childhood is a time of exploration. However, curiosity can lead to dental issues like falling on the jungle gym and chipping a tooth. 

• Excessive Thumb Sucking: This "comforting" habit is actually bad for the tooth as it causes misalignment. When permanent teeth begin to erupt, thumb sucking will disrupt normal teeth growth, affect the bite, and impact the roof of the mouth. 

• Gingivitis and Gum Disease: This condition exhibits gum inflammation, often caused by poor dental care and plaque build-up. When sore tissues are left untreated, it can escalate into bone damage and tooth loss. 

• Orthodontic Problems: Due to genetics, habits like thumb sucking, or missing teeth, children face issues with teeth alignment. Remember, it is easier to straighten teeth when kids are young as their gums are more pliant. Wearing braces is not mere vanity but a necessity that paves the way for easier biting, chewing, and speaking. Besides, misaligned teeth are harder to clean, leading to tooth decay. 

Develop Good Dental Hygiene Habits Early

Training your children to imbibe good oral care habits is the first line of defense against many dental problems like caries, plaque, gingivitis, and cavities. Remember, tooth decay can escalate into infection, extreme pain, and tooth loss. Consequently, this can affect your children's manner of speech, eating habits, and even overall health. 

Teach Children the Importance of Good Oral Hygiene

The good news is you can prevent tooth decay and other dental problems by teaching your kids proper oral care habits. With consistent brushing, flossing, and professional cleaning, you can keep the teeth and gums healthy. Be sure to teach your children the following: 

• Start Early: Begin oral care habits from infancy. Even when the baby's teeth have not erupted, clean the mouth with a clean washcloth. When the milk teeth are out, use a baby toothbrush to cleanse the teeth and gums. 

• Teach Proper Brushing: Show your kids the proper brushing motion, using circular movements. Aim to brush teeth 2 minutes a day. Help your kids until they get things right. 

• Encourage Flossing: Emphasize the importance of flossing as this will take out debris stuck in between the teeth. In addition, this habit will remove sediments that encourage plaque and tartar formation. 

• Make It Fun: Ensure that your oral routine is fun by letting your children pick out their toothbrushes and cups. You can also have them choose the flavor of the toothpaste.

• Model Good Diet Habits: Explain why sugary food can damage teeth to discourage children from eating. On top of that, remind them to drink water to cleanse the mouth and deter acid build-up that leads to cavities.

Early Dental Checkups

Above all else, maintaining healthy teeth means you have to take your kids regularly to see the dentist for routine cleaning. Start them young, preferably before they feel toothaches, so they won't associate the dentist with pain.

On top of that, make the dental trip fun so you can avoid negative attachments with the dental chair. With this approach, they won't feel frightened. Finding a pediatric dentist who treats kids from infancy to adolescence will be your best ally in ensuring your children can keep and maintain their beautiful smiles.

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Written By:

Wilson House Dental Practice is a well-known cosmetic dentist in Milton Keynes offering a full range of Advanced, Cosmetic and Orthodontic treatments to enhance your smile. Wilson House Dental Practice focuses on preventative dentistry to provide care, advice, and education to patients for many years.

Reviewed By:

Founder Ray Spotts has a passion for all things natural and has made a life study of nature as it relates to health and well-being. Ray became a forerunner bringing products to market that are extraordinarily effective and free from potentially harmful chemicals and additives. For this reason Ray formed Trusted Health Products, a company you can trust for clean, effective, and healthy products. Ray is an organic gardener, likes fishing, hiking, and teaching and mentoring people to start new businesses. You can get his book for free, “How To Succeed In Business Based On God’s Word,” at www.rayspotts.com.