What You Should Know about Children’s Teeth
It is important to establish a good oral hygiene foundation for your children as soon as they are born. While babies may not have teeth yet, wiping their gums with gauze can help prevent bottle rot. Even as the first set of teeth poke through, a grain-size amount of fluoride toothpaste can be used to gently brush the plaque away. In fact, there are several steps you can take to ensure that your children will have great dental health all the way into their adulthood.
Thumb sucking has its benefits for the first few years of life, but it is best to have them stop before permanent teeth begin coming in. A big step you can take for laying the right groundwork in good oral health is by making sure that your children are getting enough fluoride. Fluoride is important for your smile, because it makes teeth more resistant to the acid byproducts that bacteria in the mouth create when they come into contact with sugar. It also remineralizes enamel that has suffered from early stages of decay. Many city water supplies have fluoridated water. However, if you live in a city that does not, you should ask our pediatric dentist in North Hollywood about fluoride supplements for your child. Also be sure to limit their sugar intake, as sugar directly leads to tooth decay.
The proper brushing and flossing technique is very important to teach your children at an early age. First of all, try to make it fun by letting your child pick a soft bristle toothbrush with a design that they enjoy. Make sure that they hold their brush at a forty-five degree angle to the gumline and gently brush each surface of their teeth with small circular motions. Warn them early about the dangers of brushing too aggressively. Be sure that they always floss after they brush and that they use up-and-down motions while they are flossing. Sawing motions should be avoided, as that can harm their gums.