18 Mar Dental Health Tips for Kids, Parents and Grandparents
It never hurts to read up on some tips and reminders when it comes to dental hygiene for your children or grandchildren. Establishing positive dental hygiene habits from an early age will do wonders for your young ones now and in the future by helping them prevent the most common chronic disease among children today: tooth decay. The following are a few dos and don’ts when it comes to pediatric dental health.
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For the new babies in the family, the American Dental Association and American Pediatric Association recommend the first dental visit be scheduled before their first birthday. This allows your dentist to review nutritional and important developmental milestones with parent and baby.
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From birth, you should be cleaning your baby’s gums with a child-sized toothbrush or a soft cloth. Around age 2, parents should brush their children’s teeth with a soft brush and a small dab of fluoride toothpaste. Make sure you practice spitting out the toothpaste with little one to minimize swallowing.
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Never put your baby to sleep in his or her crib or bed with a bottle of juice, formula or milk. These can leave a sugary residue on your baby’s teeth and gums which can lead to decay, infection, and gum disease.
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From ages 3-7 you should still be helping your child or grandchild brush their teeth. Most children aren’t coordinated enough to do it themselves until they are a bit older. Remember to brush their teeth twice daily with a pea-sized dab of fluoride toothpaste.
Is it time for your family’s biannual dental cleanings? Contact the friendly staff at Prescott Dentistry to schedule appointments for the whole family today! (928) 445-1660
Images used under creative commons license – commercial use (3/18/2016) Kevin Stanchfield (Flickr)