Dental health in children: How to take care of them?

In most cases when a child reaches the age of three, they will have a full set of baby teeth. Those teeth then require regular cleaning and care to prevent tooth decay. 

Dental issues in children

If baby teeth aren’t properly taken care of, there are several issues that might cause severe problems. Cavities are one of the major problems caused if the teeth aren’t cleaned after eating or drinking food with sugar. The bacteria in the mouth build up plaque that causes this decay. There are other issues that might be accompanied by this condition such as:

• Infections that might spread throughout your child’s body
• Teeth pain
• Damaged permanent teeth
• Difficulty in chewing and swallowing
• Visually unappealing set of teeth

How to clean children’s teeth?

Cleaning your child’s teeth is the best way to get rid of the bacteria and plaque build ups. The easiest way to clean their teeth is to clean it with a toothbrush. In the early years, you can help your baby brush their teeth. Later your baby can brush their teeth themselves. Follow the tips below when you are cleaning your baby’s teeth:

• Make sure that you don’t use too much toothpaste. If your baby is smaller than 3 years of age, use toothpaste about the size of a grain of rice. For babies older than 3, use toothpaste about the size of a pea. 
• You should clean your baby’s teeth twice a day everyday preferably after meals during the morning and evening. 
• Try to brush in front of a mirror along with your baby so that they can see themselves in the mirror. 
• Don’t forget to clean the tongue every time you brush your teeth. 
• Set a timer for two minutes so that they keep a track of time and don’t go over it or don’t stop before it. 
• Teach your child to not swallow the toothpaste while brushing their teeth. However, you can opt for toothpaste that does not have fluoride until they learn to spit out the paste.
• Take them along with you to choose for toothbrushes. This will make the activity a bit more fun for them. 
• Try to teach them about oral hygiene by showing them videos. 
• Motivate your child to floss along with brushing. Teaching them good dental hygiene practices early in their life helps to set good habit throughout their lives.

Dental visits for children

Check for cavities in your child’s teeth time and again. It is necessary that you ensure that they are free from any dental problems. A healthy set of teeth goes a long way. Try to schedule regular visits to the dentist to make sure that everything is good even though it looks fine from the outside. When you take your child to the dental visit, give them some kind of a treat afterwards so it is fun for them. 

Healthy diet for healthy tooth

It is also important to ensure that you are eating healthy for a healthy set of teeth. The necessary nutrients for the development of a healthy tooth like calcium should be present in the diet that the child consumes. Plus the amount of sweets should be reduced.