Importance of Baby Teeth
taking care of your child’s baby teeth is important
Sometimes helping a young child to brush their teeth can feel like an incredibly challenging task. Most children have a difficult time sitting still long enough while you clean their teeth. But taking care of your child’s baby teeth is important to their dental health both now and into the future. Smile Time Kids can help you help your child. We want to help you learn how to best care for your child’s baby teeth. We will explain why caring for the primary teeth is so vital, and we also provide some helpful tips to help you get up for the challenge. We commit our team to helping children develop healthy habits and attitudes about dental care so they can experience a lifetime of confident smiles.
The entire staff at Smile Time Kids LOVES children. We enjoy their budding personalities and their constant search for answers. We are a compassionate, caring, and patient team when working with your child. Their young smiles are important to us. Call us today at 765-373-3100 with any questions you have regarding your child or stop by Smile Time Kids at 1002 Oak Drive, Richmond, IN, 47374.
The Challenges to Caring for Baby Teeth
Getting your child interested in their dental hygiene is yet another chore for them. They would rather be playing, exploring, and running. It can also be difficult to see inside your child’s mouth to be sure that they removed all the leftover food debris and developing bacteria. For some children, sugary food is the one thing they will eat without complaining, which is not good for healthy teeth. All these challenges to caring for your child’s baby teeth can sometimes feel a bit overwhelming. With some patience and a few tips, you will be able to help your child achieve a healthy smile.
Education
The Importance of Caring for Baby Teeth
Even though baby teeth will eventually fall out, you still need to care for them. Your child’s baby teeth have a profound effect on their physical, social, and even emotional development.
First, caring for baby teeth is important because it fosters good nutrition. When a child has healthy baby teeth, they can chew more diverse and healthy foods. Baby teeth also affect your child’s ability to speak and pronounce all the sounds needed to talk. This, along with your child’s appearance, can affect a child’s developing self-esteem. A healthy mouth is a pain free mouth. Caring for your child’s baby teeth will allow them to play and learn without a distracting ache in their mouth. Finally, teaching your young child to care for their primary teeth teaches them invaluable habits that will affect your child’s oral health for the rest of their life. Also, baby teeth act as placeholders in the jaw while the adult teeth develop; they actually work to guide the adult teeth into their appropriate space. When baby teeth are healthy, permanent teeth are more likely to develop and come in straight.
A Few Tips for Caring for Baby Teeth
When your child is too young to brush on their own, brush their teeth for them. Consider laying them on their back, which can make it easier to see their teeth and reach all the areas of their mouth. Use an exceedingly small amount of fluoride toothpaste to protect their teeth. Try to brush two times a day. Brush both the front and back of their teeth. Remember, you are creating good habits.
To make brushing fun, play games with your child. See who can say “ah” the longest. Allow your child to brush your teeth while you brush theirs. The more you can make brushing into a positive experience, the easier it will be to get them to cooperate next time.
As your child grows, they can brush on their own with supervision. Help them to use the proper amount of toothpaste so they will not swallow too much. It can also be helpful if you brush in front of them so they can see you practice important dental care habits. Continue to brush two times a day. Choose the right toothbrush. You want one with a small head, soft bristles, and a large handle. As soon as children have two teeth that touch, you should begin to floss them daily. Avoid sugary drinks and food. This can go a long way in preventing damage and decay. Smile Time Kids has a list of foods we will share that aid in your child's dental health. If you notice any brown spots or discoloration, schedule an appointment with us. We can help to treat decay before a tooth becomes permanently damaged or falls out prematurely.
Form a habit of regular dental check-ups. Bring your child every six months as you would yourself. Even if you do not notice any problems, your baby should have his or her first dental visit by age one. This will help us catch any problems early. You will also be able to learn about problem areas in your child’s mouth. Our staff will also give you more tips for successfully caring for your child’s oral health.
Make an Appointment for Your Child Today!
Smile Time Kids would like to share the recommendations of The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry. They suggest bringing your child in for their first dental appointment as soon as their first tooth erupts or by the time your child is one, whichever occurs first. We will work with your child and treat them like family. We love happy and healthy children. Afterwards, children should visit at normal intervals just like you would schedule your own dental checkups. Call 765-373-3100 today to make an appointment with Smile Time Kids. Our office is located at 1002 Oak Drive, Richmond, IN 47374. Let us keep your child healthy together.