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Dental Care Tips For Toddlers

Toddlers have balls of energy, and they do not like standing still to brush their teeth. You will find that they do not like practicing any toddler dental care routines. However, dental hygiene is a must to avoid losing teeth through cavities and other dental diseases. As a parent, you have many questions running through your mind about maintaining dental hygiene in your toddler. How many times should they brush their teeth? When should they start to floss? What to do if the water supply is not fluoridated? This article will guide you through all your concerns about dental care for toddlers. 

toddler practicing dental care tips by brushing his teeth

Visit The Dentist Early and Often

 As an adult, you need to visit the doctor at least two times a year. The same case applies to toddlers. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that toddlers start their dental check-up during the first year of their lives. You can visit a dentist, which will conduct a thorough oral exam and take a dental history. They will also guide you on brushing your toddler’s teeth properly, preventing cavities, and how often you should visit the clinic. Additionally, the dentist will assess the risk of your toddler suffering from any dental issues. If there is a family history of cavities, there is a chance your toddler will have the same.

Always Use Fluoride Toothpaste

There is a non-fluoridated training toothpaste made for toddlers, which many parents use. However, the American Dental Association changed the guidelines and recommends that parents should use fluoridated toothpaste as soon as the baby gets the first tooth. You do not have to use it a lot. A small amount the size of a grain of rice is enough. When your child is three years, you can start using toothpaste the size of a pea. This is crucial to prevent tooth decay at such a young age. If you are among people who do not have a fluoridated water supply, your dentist might prescribe a daily supplement.

Clean Right Away With The Right Tools

You can clean your little one’s teeth even before they form using infant tooth and gum wipes daily. Cutting a child’s cavity-causing bacteria might seem a little bit weird even before teeth start appearing. It is good to delay the formation of these bacteria by avoiding saliva-sharing behaviors. Ensure you do not share any cups or spoons and never clean their pacifiers with your mouth. You can graduate to the next level of using fluoridated toothpaste after your child develops one tooth. Until your child reaches six, you should always brush their teeth for them or do it after they do it.

Use The Right Technique

You should not aggressively brush your baby’s teeth and gum as it could cause damage. Ensure you brush gently using a circular motion while tilting the bristle towards the gums. Ensure you touch every surface of every tooth. It is recommended that a child should brush their teeth for two minutes, but if your child has two teeth, you do not have to take all that time. Sometimes, children can be so fussy and won’t stay still for two minutes. If your child is below five years old, you can clean all surfaces in less than one minute. The critical thing is to maintain the right technique.

Ensure You Child Flosses Daily

Many parents think that flossing begins when a child gets all the teeth. However, flossing begins when the teeth start to touch each other. Even if you use the right technique when the teeth are touching, you cant get all the plaque and food out. You also need to maintain the right technique while flossing. There is a disposable flosser for kids in the market, which you can purchase and ensure that you floss against each tooth firmly. Your child might bite you once in a while, but you have to do whatever it takes.

Ensure Your Child Eats A Healthy Diet

To enhance your child’s oral health, ensure they consume a wide variety of food, including fruits, calcium-rich cheese, and veggies. Do not feed your little champ too much fruit juice. Instead, encourage the intake of water while limiting sugary sweets to avoid cavity formation.

Conclusion

As your kid grows older, they will develop their personality. You will notice that they become stubborn to dental routines and will not stay still to brush their teeth. You need to develop strategies that will ensure that you practice proper dental care while they are young. Also, always ensure that your child eats a healthy meal and that you visit the dentist often.

About Julee: Julee Morrison is an experienced author with 35 years of expertise in parenting and recipes. She is the author of four cookbooks: The Instant Pot College Cookbook, The How-To Cookbook for Teens, The Complete Cookbook for Teens, and The Complete College Cookbook. Julee is passionate about baking, crystals, reading, and family. Her writing has appeared in The LA Times (Bon Jovi Obsession Goes Global), Disney's Family Fun Magazine (August 2010, July 2009, September 2008), and My Family Gave Up Television (page 92, Disney Family Fun August 2010). Her great ideas have been featured in Disney's Family Fun (Page 80, September 2008) and the Write for Charity book From the Heart (May 2010). Julee's work has also been published in Weight Watchers Magazine, All You Magazine (Jan. 2011, February 2011, June 2013), Scholastic Parent and Child Magazine (Oct. 2011), Red River Family Magazine (Jan. 2011), BonAppetit.com, and more. Notably, her article "My Toddler Stood on Elvis' Grave and Scaled Over Boulders to Get to a Dinosaur" made AP News, and "The Sly Way I Cured My Child's Lying Habit" was featured on PopSugar. When she's not writing, Julee enjoys spending time with her family and exploring new baking recipes.
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