Childrenâs dentistry is important but can only be truly effective with help from the parents in protecting their children’s teeth. At Marquette Dentistry, we always hope to start dental care by the time a child’s first teeth come in. The real success of childrenâs dentistry begins and ends at home, with daily habits and healthy choices that contribute to oral health.
Oral Health Tips for Parents
Tooth decay is a serious issue. In fact, it is the leading children’s disease. Problems with the mouth and teeth can spread to other parts of the body, if not properly treated. Dental problems can eventually contribute to stroke, heart disease, and other serious health conditions. Childrenâs dentistry is about helping children maintain a healthy smile, but it is also about so much more. It can be a real battle, to protect teeth from decay, something many parents know about very well.
The following are oral health tips for parents. As a disclaimer, at Marquette Dentistry, we understand that it can be very difficult to choose dental care over the desire to comfort and calm your child. In addition, all of us struggle with the fact that the food handiest to eat is generally bad for our teeth. Making healthy choices definitely requires pre-determined resolve and focus. Oral tips for parents follow:
- Take advantage of the support, expertise, and help of childrenâs dentistry routinely, beginning at least when your child is 1, if not earlier. We recommend coming within six months of the first tooth eruption or by that special 1st birthday. Continue to visit every six months for cleanings and checkups, which is an excellent form of preventative care.
- If a child naps or sleeps all night with milk, juice, or sweet tea in his or her baby bottle, the result can be baby bottle tooth decay. The prolonged contact with the sugars in these and other liquids is what causes the decay. Bottles during bedtime should be limited to only a small amount of water.
- Do not clean your child’s pacifier by putting it in your mouth because you are passing the bacteria in your mouth onto your child. Instead, clean the pacifiers properly after they have been dropped.
- Once teeth are erupting, begin at least cleaning them with a wet cloth or gauze.
- Serve your child healthy foods, instead of sugars that promote decay.
We hope you will contact us for an appointment today for caring, experienced childrenâs dentistry.