Finding A Great Dentist

Giving Your Child A Healthy Smile: What You Can Do

7 May 2019

Kenzi Thompson

Your child's oral health is important, and instilling healthy habits in your child starts at a very young age. To help ensure your child has a healthy smile, you have to do some work on your part. Read on for tips to help give your child a healthy, beautiful smile.

Before Teeth Emerge

Even at the infant stage, you should be taking care of your child's oral health. Without teeth erupting yet, you have to take care of your child's gums, as there are teeth laying below the surface.

Wipe down your infant's gums to remove any residue leftover on the gums. Milk has sugar in it, and if left on the gums, it can cause problems for the teeth below the surface.

When the teeth do finally come in, they can be rotten. Clean your baby's gums with a clean, damp cloth. Rub your baby's gums with just a little bit of pressure, which your baby may really like, especially when they start teething.

After Teeth Have Erupted

After your child's teeth emerge, you can begin brushing your child's teeth with an infant toothbrush and training toothpaste. The training toothpaste doesn't have any fluoride in it, but you should still only use a small amount of the training toothpaste. Brush your child's teeth, gums, and tongue (if you can).

Visiting the dentist once teeth emerge is also an important part of your child's oral health. Take your child to the dentist every six months after the first tooth erupts.

Instilling Healthy Oral Habits

Start instilling healthy oral habits in your child by setting a good example yourself. It isn't just about taking care of your child's teeth. You should be setting a good example by seeing the dentist yourself, brushing your teeth for your child to see, flossing your own teeth, and eating/drinking healthy. If you set a good example, your child will follow suit.

Provide your child with healthy foods and drinks such as fresh fruits and vegetables, plenty of water, and milk. Skip sugary drinks, candy, and other sugar-filled foods that don't provide proper nutrition for your child. 

To help give your child a healthy smile, there are things you need to do on your end as a parent. Set a good example, clean your infant's gums and teeth even before teeth even emerge, and take your child to the dentist for regular checkups beginning as soon as your child's teeth begin to erupt. Talk to a pediatric dentist about other tips to ensure your child has a healthy smile.

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