Recognizing The Benefits of Dental Implants

Dental care should be a routine practice for the health of your child's teeth and gums. Whether your child has just cut his or her first teeth or is of school-age, a pediatric dentist can help your child achieve healthy oral health. You should schedule your baby's first visit after his or her first tooth emerges and follow up twice a year thereafter. However, as a parent, there is more you can do to protect your child's teeth and gums. Achieve a head start on pediatric oral hygiene and health by following these simple rules.

1. Clean Your Baby's Teeth the Right Way

Whether your child has only one or several primary (baby) teeth, it is important to maintain proper oral hygiene. Gentle brushing can remove plaque and bacteria that may lead to problems later. Your baby's teeth and gums are sensitive, so be very gentle as you clean them. It is best to choose a soft bristled toothbrush specially designed for infants. It may not be a good idea to use adult toothpaste for your baby. A small dab of infant toothpaste is best.

2. Discourage Harmful Habits That May Cause Dental Issues

Besides neglecting to brush the teeth, there are other negative habits that should be discouraged. For one thing, a child should not habitually suck his or her thumb or use a pacifier past the age of two or three. Doing so may cause the teeth to become misaligned.

Another bad habit to be discouraged is allowing a child to go to bed with a bottle. Baby bottle tooth decay is a problem that often occurs due to bedtime bottle habits. The sugars in milk or juice may coat the teeth and lead to cavities and tooth decay. For good oral health, it is best to limit prolonged exposure to juices and milk, or any substance that contains sugar. Also, never dip pacifiers in sugar or juice.

3. Ensure a Healthy Diet For Your Child

Encouraging healthy eating habits may ensure good overall health, which in turn helps build strong teeth. Good oral health can be achieved through proper dental care, and by choosing foods that are good for your child. His means limiting "junk" foods such as sugary treats and desserts which often leads to developing cavities.

Include lots of fresh fruits, vegetables, whole grains, fish and poultry in your child's diet. Leafy greens are loaded with calcium which helps strengthen the enamel of the teeth. For healthy snacks, choose apples (which helps wash away plaque and bacteria), carrot sticks, celery and calcium-rich almonds. You might also offer cheese for mid day snacking. Did you know that the American Academy of General Dentistry states that cheese may help reduce tooth decay by increasing pH levels in the mouth? 

4. Protect Your Child's Teeth From Sports Related Injuries

While you want to encourage physical activity and sports for your child, you need to be aware of the risk of damage to the teeth. If your child participates in sports, such as hockey and football, a mouth guard can help protect the teeth from serious damage. In many cases, mouth guards are actually required to participate in organized sports.

To avoid trauma to the teeth and gums, inquire about having the pediatric dentist fit your child with a custom mouth guard. A custom fitted mouth guard will provide more protection than a standard device purchased over the counter at a pharmacy. An off the shelf mouth guard may be available in various sizes, but it will not be molded to fir the individual shape of your child's mouth. A custom fitted design, however, will be molded to provide an exact fit. For more information, visit a website such as http://www.accentdentalnwi.com/.