How important is oral health in children?
Dental issues in Children are more frequent than you may think. There has been a roughly 10% increase in dental emergencies in children recently. This is why oral health in Children is very important. In this blog, we will show you why oral health in children is essential & how tooth decay in children is preventable.
Tooth decay in children.
Did you know that tooth decay is children’s most common chronic disease? Over half of children aged 6 to 8 have had a cavity in at least one of their primary teeth. Also, more than half of adolescents aged 12 to 19 have had a cavity in at least one of their permanent teeth. If not treated promptly, cavities can lead to other dental issues that could cause you pain & cost more money to correct.
How to prevent cavities in Children?
Teach your child good dental habits. Teaching children good dental habits, such as brushing twice daily with fluoride, flossing regularly, limiting or avoiding sugary foods, dental check-ups, etc. Make sure you help & supervise your child until they are ready to do this themselves.
Good tooth brushing routine.
Some people think that primary teeth, also known as baby teeth, are unnecessary since they’ll end up falling out; however, this is wrong and can lead to future dental problems with permanent teeth. As soon as your baby has a tooth, you should be brushing their teeth two times a day. The instructions on how to brush children’s teeth can vary depending on their ages. Please see the simple steps below to prevent tooth decay;
- For children younger than 3 years old, start brushing their teeth twice a day, morning & night, using fluoride toothpaste in an amount no more than a smear or the size of a grain of rice.
- For children 3 to 6 years of age, brush their teeth twice a day, morning & night, using a pea-sized amount of fluoride toothpaste.
- At around the age of eight years old, children should have developed the skills needed for tooth brushing. However, supervision is often needed past this age until you are sure they can do it well by them selves. Please follow the recommended amount of toothpaste depending on the child’s age. Teach your child not to swallow it since swallowing too much fluoride toothpaste can cause white or brown spots on your child’s adult teeth. Brush teeth properly, clean each tooth thoroughly. Your child could be resistant to this; however, if you make the process fun for them, it will be way easier for you.
Foods to be avoided.
The longer the teeth are exposed to sugar, the higher the risk of cavities. Brushing your child’s teeth after eating sugary food is very important. Do not allow your child to eat sugary foods if, for some reason, you won’t be able to brush their teeth immediately. Increasing healthy foods and limiting unhealthy foods in your child’s diet will benefit their oral and overall health.
Visit the dentist regularity.
Babies should have their first dental visit no later than their first birthday or after the first tooth. The dentist will ensure all teeth are developing correctly and that there are no dental problems. They can also advise you on other proper hygiene tips. Your child should visit the dentist at least once a year.
Where can you find a kids Dentist?
At Sage Dental we have multiple pediatric dentists within our network of 80+ offices. Since they visit multiple offices every week, you can schedule your child’s appointment either at your own office, or one that’s close to you. You can also take advantage of our great new patient package offer for kids! Find a location near you today!
