Raising your children to properly care for their teeth and prevent cavities does more than just saving you money on countless repairs on cavities – it also helps them develop a routine for dental care that will last a lifetime. Many parents find it difficult to figure out when to start teaching their children about dental care and how to do it so that the child will stick with it and be able to trust that they will continue to do it without being constantly reminded.

Most dentists suggest that dental care should begin even before your baby gets their first tooth. Few parents know that a baby’s teeth actually begin to form during the second trimester of pregnancy. Because these teeth are not visible in a newborn doesn’t mean that they are not there or that their importance is insignificant until later on. These teeth are just below the surface of the gums, and keeping your baby’s mouth properly cared for can help ensure the teeth have a healthy environment in which they can develop. One thing parents can do is run a damp washcloth over their baby’s gums before the teeth develop, later graduating to a soft children’s toothbrush at night when they start teething.

As soon as your child’s teeth begin erupt through the gums, parents should begin taking them to a family or pediatric dentist who is fully trained in children’s teeth. Any potential problems can thus be detected and treated early on. The American Dental Association recommends your child’s first dentist visit should be by their first birthday or shortly after.

After the age of two, dental visits will begin to include fluoride applications. These help harden the enamel of your child’s teeth preventing cavities and oral diseases. Because the enamel is not fully developed, getting your child in the habit of brushing their teeth after every meal and even snacks is vital in preventing cavities. When your child begins brushing around two or three years old, make sure you supervise them – particularly if using fluoride toothpaste – making sure they never use more than a pea sized amount. Be sure they do not ingest it and help them understand that it is dangerous to swallow any of the paste or foam in their mouths.

As your child gets older and loses their baby teeth and the permanent ones start to grow in, their dentist should apply sealants to the teeth that are most likely to develop cavities. This is a great way to add another line of defense against cavities, even if they miss a few brushings or have a sweet tooth. However, this doesn’t mean you don’t have to keep making sure they are brushing after meals and most importantly at night. Children should visit their dentist every six months or so depending upon your dentist’s recommendations to be sure any decay or other issues are caught early enough to fix or to prevent from getting any worse.

Keep in mind that if you have had tooth decay or gum disease in your own mouth, your children are at a heightened risk to develop these as well, so it is even more important to help them realize how important it is to care for the teeth. You might even want to show them pictures of tooth decay to give them a visual of what could happen.

Mike Rollins is a freelance health writer who writes patient-education material for a variety of dentists and other healthcare providers in the Midwest. If you live near Eau Claire, Wisconsin and do not yet have a dental provider, feel free to visit this dental clinic for more information.

Mike Rollins is a freelance writer who writes patient-education material for a variety of dentists and other healthcare providers. If you live near Eau Claire, WI and do not yet have a dentist, feel free to visit the Menomonie Street Dental website here for more info: http://msdsmile.com

Author Bio: Mike Rollins is a freelance health writer who writes patient-education material for a variety of dentists and other healthcare providers in the Midwest. If you live near Eau Claire, Wisconsin and do not yet have a dental provider, feel free to visit this dental clinic for more information.

Category: Wellness, Fitness and Diet
Keywords: tooth decay, children, dentistry, pediatric, cavity prevention, eau claire, wi, wisconsin