4 Simple Ways to Teach Your Child Good Oral Health Care Habits

Oral health is tied very closely to the overall health of our body. Here’s why visiting a kid’s dentist regularly can keep your child healthy and happy. 

Ideally, oral care should begin with a child’s very first tooth. Although they will eventually fall away to make space for the permanent teeth, even baby teeth can decay and cause a host of unwanted problems, including:

• difficulty chewing, eating and sleeping
• gum disease and inflammation
• painful teeth and gums
• embarrassment when talking and smiling

Friendly and Gentle Calgary Dentist For Kids

At Dr. Korol Dental, our team offers a wide range of family dental care including senior and kids dentistry services. Our qualified dentists are experienced in working with children, providing dental exams, extractions, and emergency dental care to give your little one the beautiful healthy smile they deserve!

4 Tips For Protecting Your Child’s Oral Health

A healthy mouth, gums, and teeth are a crucial part of a child’s overall wellness. Dentists suggest starting your kid’s dental care early to keep their teeth healthy and prevent tooth decay, which can lead to pain, discomfort, and trouble concentrating at school.

To get you started, here are four simple tips from our Calgary dentist:

1. Visit a Kid’s Dentist

A healthy mouth, gums, and teeth are crucial part of a child’s overall wellness. Dentists suggest starting your kid’s dental care early to keep their teeth healthy and prevent tooth decay, which can lead to pain, discomfort, and trouble concentrating at school. To get you started, here are four simple tips from our Calgary dentist:

1. Visit a Kid’s Dentist

It is recommended that a child’s first visit to the dentist should be when their first tooth erupts in the mouth and NO LATER than age two.

This first visit is important as it will allow the kids' dentist to:

• perform a quick oral examination and look for tooth decay
• check your child’s jaw, gums, and bite
• answer any questions you may have about oral hygiene practices for your child
• watch out for bottle caries, frenum issues, or any other problems that could affect your child’s 18 health or speech pattern

How often does my child have to visit the dentist? From the first visit onward, most dentists suggest that children come in every six months, unless an urgent issue arises that needs correcting such as a lisp, teeth grinding, or mouth breathing.

2. Teach Good Oral Habits

Encouraging your child to practice good oral habits is important from the very beginning. Before your little one has teeth you can begin gently brushing his/her gums. This can be done using a baby toothbrush or a soft washcloth.

Oral Care Tips From a Calgary Kid’s Dentist

• When your baby’s teeth appear, brush twice a day with an infant toothbrush.
• Start flossing when two of their teeth touch each other. Ask your kids' dentist about the proper technique.
• Brush and floss just before bedtime. After that, your child shouldn’t have anything to eat or drink, except water, until the next morning.

2. Teach Good Oral Habits

Encouraging your child to practice good oral habits is important from the very beginning. Before your little one has teeth you can begin gently brushing his/her gums. This can be done using a baby toothbrush or a soft washcloth.

Oral Care Tips From a Calgary Kid’s Dentist

• 2hen your baby’s teeth appear, brush twice a day with an infant toothbrush.
• start flossing when two of their teeth touch each other. Ask your kids' dentist about the proper technique.
• brush and floss just before bedtime. After that, your child shouldn’t have anything to eat or drink, except water, until the next morning.

3. Cut Back on Sticky Foods

As a parent, it’s important to remember that what your child eats affects his/her teeth. Too many carbohydrates, sugar, and starches can cause tooth decay. That’s why it’s important to limit, or completely avoid, sticky or chewy food for your children.

This includes foods such as raisins, jelly beans, honey, caramel, and granola bars, which tend to stick to teeth and make it difficult for saliva to wash the sugar away.

TIP: If your child does consume these foods, you must make sure that he/she brushes their teeth immediately after.

4. Stand Firm on Brushing, Flossing, and Rinsing

Stand Firm on Brushing, Flossing, and Rinsing 21 22 23 Some children will put up a fuss when it comes time to brush and floss their teeth, but it’s important to never let them off the hook. Stand firm and make it clear that healthy dental care habits are essential.

Some tips to help you coax a reluctant child to brush/floss their teeth:

•  Be patient. A young child can start brushing their teeth with the help of a parent from around 2-3 years old, but they may not be able to do it independently until the age of 6. It can take up to the age of 10 for children to perfect their flossing skills.
• Don’t wait until late in the evening. You may not get much cooperation if your child is tired so remember to start before it’s too close to bedtime.
• Motivate your child using tools such as a gold star chart or stickers, or let them pick out their own toothbrush and toothpaste.
• Make it a group activity as children are more likely to join in if they see you brushing and flossing your own teeth.

Call Today

To find out more about our affordable holistic dentistry services and how we can take care of your whole family’s oral health, contact our Calgary dental clinic today at 403-245-9099 or book an appointment.