Every parent and guardian has probably experienced that nightly battle with a child who refuses to brush his or her teeth. It is normal for toddlers to be hyped and difficult about night-time rituals, but this not an excuse for bad oral hygiene. Promoting dental health should always start early so that future problems will be averted.

Start Before Teething

This may sound a little over the top but dental care should be observed even if your baby has no teeth yet. Clean their gums with a clean, soft and wet cloth after eating; this prevents the build-up of food and bacteria. Continue doing this after his/her baby teeth erupts. Schedule an appointment with the dentist when your child reaches a year old. This ensures that your baby’s oral health is in optimum condition and your dentist can instruct you about maintaining good oral health for your child.

Early visits to the dentist will prevent the child from fearing oral healthcare professionals in the future. Childhood fear of dentists may limit your child’s desire to be honest about his/her oral issues. Your toddler may not tell you about swollen gums or aching teeth because of the desire to avoid a trip to the dentist’s office. This will only make problems worse. If a child is comfortable with dentists then there will be no problem in voicing out teeth issues so they can immediately be treated.

Switch To Cups As Soon As Possible

Bottle and breast feeding can actually harm your baby’s teeth because they often fall asleep while sucking milk or formula. The substance collects in their mouth and stays there for a period of time. This coats your baby’s teeth with sugar and food which hastens corrosion. Always remember to wipe your baby’s teeth and gums after feeding so their teeth aren’t exposed to sugars for long periods of time. When your baby can already drink from a cup gradually take away the bottle. Cups make feeding times shorter and decrease the exposure of the teeth to sugar.

Make Brushing A Fun Ritual

Parents and guardians could make brushing fun by doing it with their kids. You can both hum a favorite tune while brushing together or you can make a game about the number of strokes you did for each part of the mouth. Incorporate things your toddler loves in personal oral health tools. Make your child pick the brush that appeals the most or buy one with favorite cartoon designs.

You can also get electrical toothbrushes. They can clean faster and more thoroughly, their whirring sound will also be a source of delight for kids. Children like playing with gadgets so an electric toothbrush could work wonders in making brushing more enjoyable.

At age seven kids should know how to brush and floss by themselves. Parents can do these activities for the child until they learn to do it alone. They will come to see oral hygiene as an enjoyable expected daily activity that needs to be diligently done. This type of conditioning promotes strong and happy teeth.

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Category: Parenting
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