Dental Care For Kids

As a parent, you have more responsibilities for your children than you probably knew that you signed up for. It is so fun to find out the gender of your baby, plan a nursery, and choose a name – but the list of responsibilities adds up throughout the years of parenthood. Dental care is one area that most parents never think about before their child is born. Most parents don’t even think about it under their children begin to lose their first baby teeth. However, dental care should start early to promote optimal oral health for life.

The greatest advocate for your child’s oral health is YOU. You are the greatest influence in your child’s young life, so if your children see you making your oral health a priority, they will be more likely to do the same. It is as simple as letting your children brush their teeth in the same bathroom with you when they are little. Put on a fun song, and both you and your children can brush until the song is over. This positive example will also include flossing as the child reaches maturity to do so.

Another way for you, as the parent, to exemplify positive dental care for your children is to provide them with a healthy diet. A healthy diet is full of grains, lean meats, fruits, and vegetables. It also limits sugar as much as possible. Sugar is the greatest enemy of your child’s smile. Sugar causes oral bacteria to congregate in vast quantities and eat away at the tooth enamel. According to the Nation Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research, about 42% of children under the age of 11 have had dental caries affecting their primary {baby} teeth. Teach your children from an early age that water is the best drink around – because it is! By limiting sugary drinks, candy, and processed foods, you are helping to protect your children’s smile.

It is also essential that you take your children to the dentist early. From the moment your children can sit in a chair, they should visit the dentist. At the first dental visit, the dentist will make “going to the dentist” fun. The goal is to help your children feel relaxed at the dentist’s office early so that they will feel comfortable going to the dentist when it is time for regular cleanings and checkups.

At Peninsula Cosmetic & Family Dentistry, we are here for your entire family’s dental care needs. Please contact our practice to schedule an appointment.