Keeping on top of your toddler’s oral health

No matter what you might be going through at the time, life seems worthwhile when your child smiles at you. Those bright teeth and expression of trust and joy hold all the promise for your future together in the few seconds it lasts, and those connections should always reaffirm the fact it’s your responsibility to foster a lifetime a good oral health in your toddler by starting early.

Getting a good head start is essential and making sure they get their first dental checkup to coincide with their first birthday is critical for a lifetime of healthy and happy smiling. Although you might not have thought about it, Mom and Dad need to be on their best behavior before that inaugural visit to the dentist so they don’t ratchet up their little one’s natural apprehension of what’s to come.

Language

Your child will of course have questions about what’s going to happen and, while it’s fine to share some grownup tales about your own visits, it’s best to color the entire experience as something interesting and fun. Make sure to take a few minutes to think about the language you’ll be using as well so you can stay away from terms like “drill” and “shot,” which will only paint a bad picture in their impressionable little minds.

Laying a foundation for a lifetime of good oral health starts with teaching them good habits. Begin long before they even have teeth by gently brushing your baby’s gums with water and a baby toothbrush to get them accustomed to the idea. An infant toothbrush and fluoridated toothpaste is all you’ll need to brush daily once those little molars start to appear and when you see at least two teeth touching each other as they start to grow in earnest, gently flossing between them is recommended.

Smile

Parents often ask how long they’ll need to help their children brush, floss and otherwise maintain their smile. While there is no hard and fast date when you can stop for good, children can generally start practicing on their own around age four or five and are ready to go it alone around eight, or at the same time they start tying their own shoes.

Gums and Teeth

Keeping an eye on things is important. Once a month you should lift your toddler’s lips and take a good look at gums and teeth for anything that might need a dentist’s attention. Tooth decay at a young age can start along the gums or front and back side of the front teeth. White or brown spots could be a red flag and an early indicator of problems on the horizon and your child’s dentist can often apply a fluoride varnish to stop any issues from getting a good hold.

Finally, you need to be ready because accidents happen, especially when you’re dealing with toddlers that see everything as a new adventure. If you can’t place a knocked out tooth back in its socket until you can get to the dentist, placing it in a glass of milk will keep it moist enough until it can be refitted and that beautiful smile you can’t get enough is properly restored.

Read more info like this at All My Children.
Author: Rob Starr