Nurturing Healthy Teeth: Dental Care for Children

Watching a child take his first steps is one of the most beautiful things in the world. This marks the start of a vital transition phase when parents must check their overall development, including teeth. In the early years, children’s teeth undergo numerous changes. Therefore, it comes under the responsibility of parents to ensure optimum oral health for their kids. Besides teaching good teeth hygiene, guardians should emphasise visits to paediatric dental specialists at least every six months. Read this blog for more information.

When do I Start Teaching My Child About Oral Health?

It is always early enough to instill good dental hygiene habits in children. However, the ideal time to teach your child these is when he attains the age of two or three. Milk teeth of children are often susceptible to cavities and infections. Moreover, kids tend to eat sweet items more than any other food. This hastens tooth decay and subsequent dental complications. According to CDC findings, this is the most common issue children face between six and twenty years of age. The good news is that such dental problems can be easily treated with prompt intervention.

Tips to maintain dental hygiene for your child

Here’s a list of tips that can help maintain your child’s teeth optimally.

• Teach your kid to brush teeth twice daily and floss after main meals.

• Research on fluoride-enriched dental care products. They help in strengthening the tooth enamel.

• Promote a nutritious diet, consisting green vegetables and seasonal fruits. Also, keep out sugar-laden foods and drinks from them as they erode the enamel and cause bacterial growth.

• Schedule routine visits to a paediatric dental specialist to check your child’s teeth. The frequency generally depends on the condition.

The quicker you inculcate good oral hygiene habits in your kids about oral hygiene, the more they can implement those into their lives.

Complications that arise with improper maintenance of dental hygiene

Regardless of your child’s age, prioritise dental care as a parent to avoid complications like toothache, inflammation, gum disorders, etc. Whether your child is getting the first tooth or complaining of pain, treat each of them with urgency. This is because inconsistency and carelessness can lead to worsening conditions. The best part is that with several clinics now offering cost-effective dentistry for children, it has become easy to contact a slot anytime.

Why Is It Necessary to Teach Your Child Good Dental Care?

Here’s why teaching children about dental care is essential.

• Ensures Long-Lasting Good Habits

When children are small, it is easier to introduce good, impactful habits to them. This also increases the chances of retention in their minds, and they will likely follow them throughout their lives. The best thing you can do as a parent is to set personal examples. If your child sees you cleaning teeth routinely or maintaining proper oral care, he will slowly develop the same habits.

• Promotes general bodily functions and wellness

The best way to gift a child a disease-free life is to teach healthy oral hygiene practices during his formative years. Ask why? According to recent scientific findings, most of the major illnesses stem from mouth infections. Thus, it is the responsibility of parents to explain dental care practices beforehand to their children. Besides, a naturally healthy smile can enhance your child’s self-worth and make him more confident. So, start supporting in his journey from now on.

• Minimises Dental Anxiety

Children who learn proper oral hygiene practices in advance are less likely to develop tooth complications. This can significantly reduce the number of dental visits and the fear associated with them. Another advantage is that when a child gets habituated to routine tooth checkups, he can make a good rapport with the attending dental professional. This is obviously good news for parents.

• Enhances Preventive Care

Seeing your child to an experienced dental doctor reduces the chances of future tooth issues, such as inflamed gums, weak roots, enamel corrosion, etc. Since professionals can guide on preventive measures, the need for subsequent costly and more invasive procedures goes down. Surprisingly, many people are still unaware of the importance of newborn teeth. In such cases, a dental visit can help parents recognise and arrange treatment for restoring their child’s tooth health.

• Assists in Cognitive Progress

According to research, cognitive health is directly linked to dental hygiene. Often, it has been seen that those children who scored less in cognitive function tests suffered from tooth issues. This is because students had to take school leaves to attend the dentist. It's saddening that such problems led to a 42% greater chance of missing classes and a 24% reduction in completing lesson assignments worldwide.

• Manages Chronic Health Disorders

As mentioned earlier, oro-dental infections can initiate a wide range of chronic diseases, such as gum inflammation, stroke, and CAD. There is also a high chance of developing deficiency diseases, a tendency to grind teeth, acid reflux, oral cancers, and more. Thus, it is essential to teach small kids about caring for teeth early. This corresponds to preventive care.

What factors should you consider before choosing a paediatric dental specialist?

The first thing to look for in a paediatric dentist is his extent of knowledge and experience in treating newborns, kids and pre-teens. However, there are many other criteria to evaluate. They are as follows:

• Presence Of Child-Friendly Environment

Ensure the dentist and his medical team are welcoming and friendly to your child. This will remove the fears from his mind, helping him to become comfortable during the checkup. Also, look out if the chamber interiors are colourfully decorated, highlighting a kid-like theme. This would promote a positive and warm environment.

• Advice on Preventative Care

As we all know, “Prevention is better than cure”. This similar concept applies to maintaining children’s tooth health. Always choose a clinic that prioritises preventive care besides routine checkups and teeth-cleaning procedures. Not only will this promote timely prevention of potential dental issues, but it will also help your child to wear a pearly smile for a lifetime.

• Availability of Comprehensive Services

While choosing a dental clinic, always look for a full-spectrum service, including restorative procedures, orthodontic care, surgical methods, etc. This ensures a convenient and effective approach to your child.

• Positive Reviews and Recommendations

Take time to thoroughly read the review section of the shortlisted dental clinics, as this will help you make a well-informed choice. You can also ask for recommendations from close family members and friends who have previously used the service.

• Ease of Location and Emergency services

Obviously, you will not waste time travelling long distances to treat your child's emergency. Thus, it is crucial you choose a dental clinic located near your place. This will help you make prompt appointment schedules. In case a big issue arises, consider an emergency paediatric dentist.

Conclusion: Find the right dentist now

Several dental care centres in London offer cost-effective services to treat child's issues. Thus, if your kid complains about their teeth, treat it as urgent and book a slot in any available clinics.