Keeping natural teeth is part of preventive dental care for kids. Baby and adult teeth should receive proper care. Maintaining healthy teeth from the start is key to keeping natural teeth for a long time. If you want to know how preventive dental care for kids can help your child avoid tooth loss, here are the details.
Visiting the dentist
Preventive dental care for kids mandates regular visits twice a year. During these visits, the dentist will clean the young patient’s teeth and then apply fluoride solution. This treatment can prevent cavities and dental decay. The dentist will check for other brewing dental problems before they worsen. Removing plaque and tartar is important in preventing gum disease.
Brushing and flossing
Good oral hygiene is one of the main goals of preventive dental care for kids. That is why kids must learn how to brush and floss the right way. Brushing must happen two times a day for two minutes. Flossing before bed can remove food particles between teeth. Chewing on sugar-free gum or rinsing the mouth with water can be an alternative to brushing.
Limiting sweets and starches
Sugary drinks and starchy foods are not good for teeth. These substances feed bad bacteria in the mouth. These organisms produce acids that erode the enamel. Parents may find it difficult to motivate their kids to give up these treats. Limiting the intake of these foods is a start. Brushing right away can remove starch, sugar, and plaque.
Drinking water as well can help clear the mouth of starch and sugar. Using a straw when drinking sugary beverages can also be part of preventive dental care for kids. A straw can deliver the drink to the back of the throat without touching the teeth. Drinking sweet drinks without a straw tends to flood the entire mouth with this sweet or acidic fluid.
Using fluoride mouthwash
Preventive dental care for kids also involves using a fluoride mouthwash. This product strengthens teeth. It also coats the teeth with fluoride, protecting them from bacterial acids. A child can learn how to use mouthwash by watching the parent.
Wearing a mouth guard
Sports injuries can cause tooth loss in children as well. Preventive dental care for kids dictates that wearing a mouth guard for sports can protect teeth from sudden facial impact. The dentist can make a custom-fit mouth guard that can hug the child’s teeth and gums. This can cost a little more, but the protection will be more effective.
Addressing bruxism
Teeth grinding or bruxism often happens at night. Dental misalignment or teething may cause this in children. Telling the dentist about this can initiate the creation of a custom-fit night guard. This dental appliance can protect the teeth from wear when teeth grinding happens.
The importance of preventing tooth loss
Dentists stress preventive dental care for kids because it is essential in preventing tooth loss. Keeping baby teeth intact helps prepare the space for the emergence of permanent teeth. Maintaining permanent teeth can help in the child’s proper speech development and to absorb nutrients the right way. Each tooth is important. Losing even one can result in other dental problems.
Preventive dental care for kids can help kids keep their teeth during adulthood
Children are often carefree, even when it comes to dental care. Parents should step in and make sure that their children brush and floss the right way every day. Limiting the intake of sugar and starch can also help improve the child’s dental health. Working with the dentist in preventive dental care for kids can help the child avoid tooth loss while growing up.
Request an appointment or call Manvel Pediatric Dentistry at 832-645-2848 for an appointment in our Manvel office.
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