3 Tips for Keeping Your Child's Teeth Healthy

Teaching your child proper oral care at a young age is an investment in his or her health that will pay lifelong dividends. Here are a few tips to help your children protect their teeth and gums and greatly reduce their risk of getting cavities.
Below are 3 tips for keeping your child’s teeth healthy:

Tooth Brushing

• "Tooth decay, especially 'baby bottle tooth decay,' is all about the amount of time a child's teeth are exposed to sugars," Mitchell said. "If you use a bottle or sippy cup, use it while the child is at the table for mealtime. Do not allow children to carry the cup around with them, and never allow them to sleep with it."
• Parents should brush their young children's teeth for two minutes twice a day and focus on where the teeth and gums meet. It's crucial to floss between baby or permanent teeth that touch together.
• Parents should brush their children's teeth until they are 6 or 7 years old, when they are coordinated enough to brush on their own. Parents should do an inspection after children brush their teeth.   Source: NationalLibraryofMedicine

Toothpaste

• Once your baby gets teeth, brush them with an infant toothbrush. Use water and a tiny bit of fluoride toothpaste (about the size of a grain of rice). Use fluoride toothpaste that carries the American Dental Association's (ADA) seal of acceptance. (If you are using baby toothpaste without the fluoride, keep it to the same amount because you still want to minimize any toothpaste that is swallowed.)
• Around age 2, your child should learn to spit while brushing. Avoid giving your child water to swish and spit because this might make swallowing toothpaste more likely.
• Kids ages 3 and up should use only a pea-sized amount of fluoride toothpaste.   Source: KidsHealth

Dental Check-ups

• Take your child to the dentist when their first milk teeth appear. This is so they become familiar with the environment and get to know the dentist. The dentist can help prevent decay and identify any oral health problems at an early stage. Just opening up the child's mouth for the dentist to take a look at is useful practise for the future. 
• When you visit the dentist, be positive about it and make the trip fun. This will stop your child worrying about future visits.
• Take your child for regular dental check-ups as advised by the dentist.  Source: NHS

 
Contact:
Sound Smiles Pediatric Dentistry
1628 S Mildred St. #201 Tacoma, WA 98465
Phone: (253) 448-8140