When you take your child to your Port Charlotte family dentist for their dental examination, your dentist will check for signs of tooth decay because it is very common in children. According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, cavities are more common in children than asthma and more than half of the children in the United States have cavities by the time they begin second grade.
Children as young as 12 months old can have cavities in their teeth because of their exposure to sugar and the lack of proper brushing. However, you can prevent your child from dealing with tooth decay by using the following tips.
Children enjoy having routines, which is why it is important to get them in the habit of brushing their teeth twice a day so they will continue brushing their teeth regularly as they get older. You might face some resistance in the beginning but most children will eventually give in to the routine with some positive reinforcement.
Your Port Charlotte family dentist recommends helping your children brush their teeth until they are eight years old because children under the age of eight cannot brush their teeth properly by themselves, which can put them at risk of cavities.
You should show your kids the right way to brush their teeth and help them until they can do it properly on their own. You should continue to supervise your kids when they brush until they are 11 years old, at which point they should be able to brush their teeth properly without adult supervision.
Fluoride is very effective when it comes to preventing cavities and the formation of plaque, which is why your Port Charlotte family dentist recommends only using toothpaste that contains fluoride. Since children younger than two years old are likely to swallow toothpaste, you should avoid using fluoride toothpaste on children that are two years old or younger.
Use the recommended amount of toothpaste to brush your children’s teeth, but do not allow them to rinse their teeth after spitting so the fluoride will stay on their teeth and provide extra protection.
Sugar is one of the leading causes of tooth decay in children, which is why you have to keep your kids away from sugary foods and drinks. If you want to give your kids sugary drinks, avoid giving it to them during meals and limit them to four ounces per day. You should also make sure your children brush their teeth or rinse their mouth with water after consuming sugary foods or drinks.
Your children might not want to visit a dentist but you should make sure that they go for regular checkups at least twice a year so your Port Charlotte family dentist can routinely check for signs of decay and also help to prevent it by cleaning their teeth with fluoride during their examination.
Children are at a high risk of getting cavities because they consume a lot of sugar and most of them do not practice good oral hygiene. Keep your child’s teeth free of cavities by using these five tips, and consult with your Port Charlotte family dentist should you have any questions.
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