Keeping your child’s health in check means keeping your child’s oral health in check as the two are very strongly linked. Neglecting to teach your child healthy oral habits from a young age is a mistake you will regret as they grow. Not teaching your child healthy oral habits will not only affect their baby teeth but can affect their adult teeth as well. This of course includes the basics, twice-daily brushing, flossing (from a certain age of course), and visiting your pediatric dentist in Austin, TX.
Being a parent is tough business, which is why as a pediatric specialist clinic, we want to help make it a little easier on you as a parent when it comes to your child’s oral health. Let’s have a look at the ways to ensure your child has a healthy smile for life.
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Teach your child healthy oral habits from a young age – Their first visit to a trusted pediatric dentist in Austin should be at the age of 1
We know, as parents, it can be a challenge to get your child to engage in healthy oral habits, however, you will do yourself and your child a favor by instilling these healthy habits from the beginning.Don’t only teach your children the importance of taking good care of their teeth, but make sure they are practicing these habits. For kids, this means more than just brushing, flossing, and visiting their pediatric dentist in Austin, TX, it also means avoiding chewing on hard objects or foods like ice and hard candies, as well as avoiding eating too much candy in general. As soon as they are old enough to floss, make sure you voice the importance of this as well.
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Monitor how much sugar your child eats
Sugar is your child’s teeth’s number one enemy. You should limit the amount that they are consuming on a daily basis. When they do have a sugary snack or treat, ensure they brush their teeth afterward. Another important part of this is looking out for hidden sugars in the food and drinks your children consume. Juices, fruit snacks, yogurts, etc., can all have a ton of hidden sugar just waiting to make a home and form cavities inside your child’s teeth.
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Make oral health care more fun for your child!
While it can be difficult to get your child to brush, floss, etc., there are ways to make it a bit more fun, and therefore, easier for you. Check out some of these ideas for making oral health care more fun:• Play your child’s favorite song during brush time, this will make brushing go a bit quicker and they won’t feel like it’s a chore. Remember, brushing should take place for two minutes, so if your child’s favorite song is two minutes long, you’re in luck!
• Set up a calendar system for your child. When they have a “happy teeth day” (good brushing and flossing and limited sugar) then they get a star!
• Make brushing a family activity, do it together in the mornings and evenings!
• Let your child pick out their toothbrush and toothpaste. Now-a-days, they have all kinds of fun-designed toothbrushes and tasty toothpaste that your child will love!
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Make sure your child gets enough calcium and vitamin
You have likely heard that calcium is essential for healthy bones, but did you know it is also essential for healthy teeth? Vitamin D works with Calcium by aiding its regulation in the body. For these reasons, it is very important to make sure your child’s diet is calcium and vitamin D rich. The good news is that milk isn’t the only option for getting in these nutrients, you can also find them in healthy fish with omega 3’s, seeds, beans & lentils, almonds, and certain leafy greens.
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Visit your pediatric dentist for regular checkups and cleanings
Another step that cannot be skipped in ensuring healthy teeth is that of taking your child in for regular cleanings and checkups to a pediatric dentist in Austin, TX. Your child should be coming in twice a year. These cleanings and checkups are essential in the early development of your child’s teeth and mouth.
Following these tips will ensure the healthiest outcome for your child and their smile. And when it comes to your child, you want only the best care. As a trusted and highly recommended pediatric dentist in Austin, TX, we want to ensure you of that care. If you have questions or would like to schedule an appointment with our expert and caring team, give us a call today.