Healthy teeth are important to your child’s overall health. They help your child eat and talk. Strong oral care helps set good dental habits as your child grows. Poor oral care can lead to infection, disease, or other teeth problems.

Help make dental hygiene fun with these tips:

• Let children help choose their own toothbrush. They can pick one that has a favorite color or character.
• Let children help choose toothpaste. They can pick their favorite flavor.
• Read books or watch videos that talk about dental hygiene.
• Use a timer to make sure kids brush their teeth for 2 minutes. Or play their favorite song to help keep track of time.
• Reward children for good oral care. Do not give them food or sugary treats. Offer something healthy or simple instead, like apple slices or a gold star.
• Plan a fun activity following your child’s dentist visit.

Path to improved health

The role of fluoride

Fluoride is important to your child’s dental health. It is known to reduce cavities in baby (primary) teeth and adult (permanent) teeth. It also helps make teeth strong by hardening the tooth enamel. Most children get fluoride in drinking water. Many cities are required to add fluoride to tap water. Water filters, such as Brita, do not remove fluoride and are okay to use. You should not use “reverse osmosis” water filters.

If your water does not contain fluoride, your child may need to take an oral fluoride supplement. Talk to your doctor to see if your child needs this. Once your child starts going to the dentist, they will get a fluoride varnish or cleaning on their teeth.

Too much fluoride can cause tooth stains and be harmful to your child’s health. Be sure your child does not swallow fluoride toothpaste or mouthwash. Follow all instructions for fluoride supplements.

Brushing and flossing

Dental hygiene should begin when your child is a baby. Start using a soft child-size toothbrush around the age of 1 or 2. You should brush your child’s teeth with water at least twice a day. You also can add a small dab of toothpaste that doesn’t have fluoride in it. This type of toothpaste is safe for your child to swallow. Once your child is old enough to spit out the toothpaste, you can switch to one that has fluoride. Only use a small amount. Teach your child to spread it among their teeth, gums, and tongue. Have your doctor or dentist show you the right way to brush your child’s teeth.

Your child likely will need help brushing their teeth until they are 7 or 8 years old. Around this time, they can start using a larger sized toothbrush. You should switch out toothbrushes every 3 to 6 months or when the bristles look worn. Children should brush their teeth for 2 minutes. Flossing is another key part of your child’s oral care routine. Teach your child to floss at least once a day. You can buy floss that comes on a handle to make it easier.

You should also teach your child to brush his or her tongue. This helps reduce the amount of bacteria in the mouth.

Be sure that your child knows to brush his or her teeth before bed, after all eating and drinking (except water) is done.

Cavities

Cavities are holes that form in your teeth. These can occur when bacteria (germs) build up in your mouth. Sugar in food and drinks turn into acid, which can eat away at your teeth. Cavities are common in children because their teeth can be harder to brush. Everyone in your family should take good care of their teeth. People who have cavities can pass the cavity-causing bacteria to unborn babies, infants, and children.

Your child may be at risk for cavities if they:

• Have white spots or brown areas on their teeth.
• Have ongoing special health care needs.
• Do not go to the dentist often.
• Were born early (premature) or had a low birth weight.

Diet

Kids who eat a lot of sugary foods and drinks also are at high risk for cavities. It is important to make healthy food choices. Avoid too much sugar. Do not let your child have a lot of soda, fruit juice, or sweetened drinks. Limit sweet snacks and drinks between meals. If your child does have sugar, make sure they brush their teeth afterward.

Chewing gum is safe for older kids. It can provide benefits, such as:

• Strengthening the jaw.
• Helping produce saliva.
• Washing away bits of food.
• Balancing acid that can cause tooth decay.
• Freshening breath.

However, gum that contains sugar can cause cavities. Limit the amount of sugar gum your child chews or only give them sugar-free gum.

Mouth safety

Safety is another big part of dental hygiene. If your child plays sports, they should wear a mouth guard. This is a soft, plastic retainer that covers the teeth and sometimes the lips. It helps protect your child’s mouth from injuries. Talk to your dentist if you need a custom-fit mouth guard.

From baby teeth to adult teeth

In general, baby teeth start to appear between 4 and 7 months old. The first teeth to come in are usually the 2 bottom front teeth. Most kids have all 20 baby teeth by about 3 years of age.

Children can lose their baby teeth as early as 6 years old and as late as 12 years old. During this process, your child has a mix of teeth as baby ones fall out and adult ones break through. Around this time, your dentist may talk to you and your child about possible teeth problems. Some kids need orthodontia treatment, such as braces. A full set of adult teeth is 32 teeth. This includes wisdom teeth, which most people do not get until their late teens or early adulthood.

Things to consider

It’s normal for babies to suck their thumbs, their fingers, or a pacifier. Most children give up this habit on their own by age 4. Prolonged use can cause problems with teeth alignment. Talk to your dentist if your child still has a sucking habit after age 4. They can watch for problems as your child’s teeth develop. In most children, there is no reason to worry about a sucking habit until around age 6, when the permanent front teeth come in.

When to see a dentist

The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry (AAPD) recommends that children see a dentist around their first birthday. This gives the dentist a chance to look for early problems with your child’s teeth. Pediatric dentists specialize in treating children’s dental health. The dentist will talk to you about proper oral care.

Visiting the dentist from a young age will help your child be more comfortable. It also establishes the good habit of regular dental checkups. Everyone should see the dentist twice a year.

Contact your dentist right away if:

• Your child has tooth pain or a tooth or mouth infection.
• Your child loses a permanent tooth. If you find the tooth, put it in milk and take it to the dentist with you. They may be able to reattach it.

You brush twice a day, use a dental rinse, and floss regularly. So do you have to keep up with your dentist appointments?

The short answer is yes. It comes down to prevention.

According to the American Dental Association (ADA), the mouth is considered the window into the entire body’s health. There are links to gum disease and other diseases like diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and more.

Here are some benefits of having a frequent dental check-up schedule.

1. Preventative Care

The best way to prevent health issues like gum disease, cavities, or oral cancer is to schedule regular dental check-ups.

What can you expect from a check-up with an experienced dentist?

Examine Your Gums

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 5 in 10 adults over 30 have periodontitis. Periodontitis is the more advanced form of periodontal disease.

Your gums provide clues. Your dentist can check for any abnormalities that may point to gum disease (periodontitis), which can spread to other body organs. For this reason, dentists recommend an annual comprehensive periodontal evaluation (CPE) for optimum health.

Check for Cavities

Did you know that you can have cavities and not even realize it? It’s true. Not all cavities cause pain. During a regular check-up, your dentist can check for potential problems before they become more serious.

After the cavities attack the enamel on your teeth, they start to attack the soft tissue underneath. Severe cavity progression can cause an infection that can enter your bloodstream. Therefore, early prevention is vital.

Check for Plaque and Tartar

Did you know that once plaque forms tartar, it cannot be removed with brushing and flossing alone? The build-up of tartar can lead to gum disease.

Dentists are the only ones equipped with the tools to successfully remove tartar on your teeth without damaging your teeth’ enamel.

Examine Your Risk of Oral Cancer

During a routine check-up, your dental hygenist will examine the neck, throat, tongue, and mouth areas for any potential abnormalities to see if you’re a risk for oral cancer.

According to The Oral Cancer Foundation, in America, one person dies per hour from oral cancer. Early detection is crucial for the 53,000 people diagnosed each year; only half will be alive within five years. Early detection is vital for prevention.

2. Increased Self-Esteem

Nothing can beat the clean feeling on your teeth after a dental cleaning. Clean teeth can increase our tendency to smile. Smiling releases endorphins in the brain turn on areas of the brain that make you happier.

People love a person who smiles. It promotes friendliness and a pleasing attitude. So your dental appointment can have more than just physical benefits, it can have psychological and social benefits.

3. Build Rapport With Your Dentist

Dentists are an essential partner in your overall healthcare. Establishing regularly scheduled provides an opportunity to build excellent communication, which can greater enhance your oral care overall. Since oral care is linked to overall health, this can be an added bonus of regular visits.

4. Sets a Good Example

Taking care of ourselves has more benefits than just our own health, it can also influence our children’s oral health. Being a role model for your kids when it comes to oral care can have lasting benefits throughout their whole life. Show them the way, and they will follow your example.

5. Helps With Possible Sleep Problems

Many people suffer from sleep apnea and teeth grinding. A dentist can refer you to a sleep specialist to determine if this is a problem. If it is determined that one of these problems occurs during sleep, your dentist can recommend mouth guards to help the issues, giving you better sleep.

6. Notice Gaps in Oral Care

Visiting with your dentist regularly can help you notice gaps in your oral care. Your dentist can offer suggestions to help you with this at home to help eliminate any associated habits associated with the gap in your oral care.

7. Maintaining Overall Wellbeing

Oral care is linked to overall health. Diseases like diabetes, cardiovascular disease, osteoporosis, and others are linked to poor oral hygiene. An experienced dentist can help address any issues and provide preventive care treatment options to ensure optimum health and overall wellbeing.

8. Avoiding Loss of Teeth

Advanced stages of periodontitis can eventually harm the bone that supports the teeth as plaque and tarter can decay further into a tooth to the root. Regularly scheduled check-ups with your dentist and good oral hygiene can play an active role in keeping your teeth healthy.

9. Financial Benefits

According to the American Academy of Implant Dentistry, the average cost for a single tooth implant can be $3,000 to $4,500 with full-mouth implants costing over $20,000. By regularly meeting with your dentist, you can instill good oral habits that promote beneficial oral hygiene.

Think of the cost savings over the life of a patient who regularly checks in with their dentist. Tartar and plaque control can be contained or prevented.

Cavities, gum disease, and oral cancer can be diagnosed or prevented altogether. All of these expenses add up when we look at the cost of not seeing a dentist regularly