Managing Your Child’s Dental Care at Home [Pediatric Dentist]

Any pediatric dentist would agree that good dental hygiene is crucial, even for the primary teeth of children. Although these teeth will eventually fall out and be replaced by permanent teeth, dental decay and cavities in primary teeth can impact the growth of permanent teeth. To avoid dental issues in the future, it is important to take children's dental care seriously and establish healthy oral care habits at home.

Tooth and gum care

Teaching a child how to properly care for teeth and gums at a young age is an excellent way to maintain dental health. Making brushing and flossing a part of the daily routine can demonstrate the importance of these activities.

Brushing

All teeth need to be brushed, starting with the ones that can appear in children's mouths as young as three months. When dealing with infants, be sure to use a toothbrush designed for children. Avoid using too much toothpaste. Use a dab the size of a grain of rice for children under three years old. Children three years old and older can use a pea-sized amount. You can talk to a pediatric dentist about when to introduce fluoride toothpaste, since swallowing too much of this kind of toothpaste can cause brown or white spots on permanent teeth. 

The direction of the brushing is not necessarily important as long as all the teeth are being thoroughly cleaned. Children tend to concentrate on the crowns of the front teeth and avoid brushing the back teeth and the gums. Most children under the age of eight will need adult assistance to properly brush their teeth. 

Flossing

Although the spaces between a child's teeth may seem too wide to make flossing necessary, bits of food can still get lodged down by the gums and cause decay. Cavities in young children tend to form more easily on and in between the back teeth, since those are the teeth used for most of the grinding while chewing. These are all reasons why flossing should be done daily once a child has molar teeth. 

Floss picks can be a simple way to introduce flossing into a child's routine. These come in bright colors and enticing flavors to make them more appealing to children. If the floss picks are difficult to maneuver between tight teeth, traditional floss is always an option. 

Eating habits

Diet plays a large role in dental health. Teeth that are exposed to sugar more often or for longer periods of time are at a much higher risk for cavities and decay. The worst foods for teeth are those that tend to stick. The following are examples of types of food to allow sparingly:

• Gum
• Caramel
• Dried fruit
• Toffee

Because these foods stick, their sugar remains on the teeth for hours and can be severely damaging. Brushing the teeth soon after eating these kinds of foods is a good idea.

Conclusion

While it is a good idea for a child to regularly visit a pediatric dentist, dental health should be a priority in the home as well. Teaching habits like tooth brushing, flossing and eating the right foods can keep teeth healthy even after the primary teeth have fallen out. 

Request an appointment here: https://www.smilesinpa.com or call Jenny Chen Pediatric and Family Dentistry at (610) 400-1588 for an appointment in our West Grove office.

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