5 Ways To Care For Kids Teeth From Your Dentist In Arlington

In life, there’s almost no greater joy than being a parent – seeing your children smile at you fills you with so much pride and gratitude, it’s almost indescribable with words. And when they grin, you think about what you’re doing to help them maintain a radiant grin their entire lives. Your dentist in Arlington agrees completely with this thought process. That’s why the team at South Arlington Dental Care shares these top 5 ways to care for your children’s smile.

#1 – Make It Fun

Keeping oral hygiene engaging and enjoyable is paramount to help children develop healthy smile habits. So, try reading stories about the dentist, watching cartoons, and using these coloring book pages and activity sheets from the American Dental Association (ADA).

#2 – Watch What They Eat

Parents generally understand that kids are inundated with sugar – cookies, gummy snacks, fruit juices and sodas can wreak havoc on your kids’ pearly whites for two reasons. First, since youngsters are still developing hand-eye coordination, this impacts their ability to remove plaque, and second, too much sugar can negatively affect proper tooth and bone development. Instead of loading up on sweets, try veggies, real fruit (instead of juices that bathe their teeth in sugar with every sip), and say cheese, since this calcium-rich dairy product helps prevent cavities.

#3 – See Your Family Dentist In Arlington

The ADA recommends that kids should have their first visit with their dentist no later than their first birthday – and then every 6 months after that. Why so young? Kids are especially prone to tooth decay and cavities. Even if baby teeth eventually fall out, dental problems can be painful for kids and lead to improper tooth development. We’ll make sure you little one is on the right track during their first visit – making the appointment about education, getting to know our team and feel comfortable, and performing an exam to ensure their smiles are off to a healthy start.

#4 – Brush & Floss

This is crucial for kids, and adults. Before teeth come in, parents should gently wipe down gums with a wet cloth after feedings. Once teeth start to erupt, they should brush using a pea-sized amount of toothpaste, and when teeth start to touch, you should help your kids floss until their able to do this on their own. Brush and floss right alongside your kids, keeping an eye on their technique and making sure they spit out toothpaste, rather than swallowing it and getting too much fluoride. Make it a game about fighting the cavity monsters and play a fun song on your phone to ensure you brush for two minutes, twice a day.

#5 – Be A Good Example

No matter what lessons you teach your kids about their teeth, if they see you drinking soda all day long, skimping on flossing, not going to the dentist yourself, and – heaven forbid – smoking, they’ll pick up on the underlying message that their pearly whites don’t matter. Walk your talk and practice good oral hygiene yourself – and talk with us if you need help stopping the use of tobacco. Quitting will drastically reduce your risk of oral cancer and keep you around to enjoy your kids for as long as possible.

Now that you know the top 5 tips to help your kids along the path of a healthy smile that lasts a lifetime, schedule an appointment with South Arlington Dental Care today!