Good Oral Health Begins Early
For good oral health to continue into adolescence and adulthood, establishing a proper foundation for oral hygiene habits is vital. Help your children develop daily oral hygiene routines by assisting them with brushing, bringing them for regular checkups and cleanings, and providing teeth-healthy foods.
Sealants Defend Children’s Teeth
One way we can help shield little smiles from tooth decay is by applying sealants. Made from a thin plastic material, sealants block out the bacteria that cause cavities. The clear coat smoothes the crevices of molars and other teeth so that food particles cannot lodge into teeth. After a digital X-ray to determine your child’s candidacy, the dental hygienist will paint the sealant onto your child’s teeth in a matter of minutes. Despite the swiftness of the procedure, the sealant can last for 5 to 10 years.
Sealants provide protection for teeth when children are still developing proper brushing techniques and may be overlooking some bacteria buildup. While sealants are great for backing up brushing, they should not replace a daily oral hygiene routine. Help your child practice brushing every morning and night. Honing brushing techniques in the developmental stages will ensure good brushing habits into adolescence when teeth and gums are more vulnerable because of hormonal changes.
Brushing Baby Teeth is Important
A common misconception about children and oral hygiene is that the baby teeth are unimportant because they will fall out anyway. Primary teeth, or baby teeth are place markers for adult teeth. It is important to keep these teeth healthy and aligned so that the adult teeth have a good start. Keeping cavities in baby teeth at bay is also important for the health of permanent teeth because they could negatively affect tooth eruption. Taking care of primary teeth also helps the health of the entire mouth, as neglecting oral hygiene can cause problems for the child’s gums as well.