Taking care of your child’s oral health
Keep these things in mind so that your children can have great oral health – and so you can have some peace of mind!
1. Thumb sucking and using pacifiers are perfectly normal when children are very young, but these habits should end by the age of 3 or 4 years. As they get older, using a pacifier or sucking their thumb can affect their teeth, bite alignment, and jaw.
2. Even if your baby isn’t showing any signs of a tooth coming in, you can start them off with good oral health by wiping their gums with a damp cloth after every feeding. When their first tooth comes in, you can start brushing it with just a tiny amount of toothpaste. By the time they are 6, they should be able to brush their teeth without help from an adult, and they should brush and floss teeth twice a day just like adults do.
3. Yes, it is important to take care of baby teeth even though they will eventually fall out (beginning around 6 years old). Baby teeth help with the spacing of permanent teeth, and if cavities and other problems are left untreated it can lead to other issues.
4. Your child should start seeing a dentist before they are a year old, and they should go every 6 months for an exam.
Don’t worry! Keeping your child safe and healthy isn’t as hard as it sounds – it just calls for a little common sense, and maybe some expert help from the staff at Soft Touch Dentistry. Call today if your child needs a cleaning appointment or if you have any concerns or questions about their oral health. Contact the Brighton office at (617) 782-9250 or the Newton office at (617) 332-8146 today.
