Dental Hygiene for Preschoolers: Establishing Good Habits

As a parent, you understand that is your job to teach good habits to your children to help them grow up to live happy and healthy lives. Whether it is eating the right foods or being kind to others, it is vital that you instil your child with positive values at such a young and impressionable age. Good dental hygiene for preschoolers is another lesson you must teach, to ensure your children retain their beautiful, natural smiles.

At such a young age, your children’s bodies are growing at a rapid rate as their mouth, teeth, and jaw are developing. If the right steps aren’t taken today to aid their development, your children are at risk of experiencing the negative effects of missing teeth later in life. These steps are easy to implement into your child’s daily life and will soon enough become part of their regular routine to carry through to adulthood.

If you are in the market for high-quality dentures, give Pearl Denture Studio a call on (02) 6684 3677, contact us, or book an appointment online.

 

The Best Tips for Dental Hygiene for Preschoolers

Brush Their Teeth Twice a Day

Most of us had this habit ingrained into us from a young age, and your children should be no different. Brushing your teeth twice a day is the most important dental hygiene tip for anyone, and your children should be brushing their teeth after breakfast and before bed.

Use a toothbrush that is designed for children, as they provide soft bristles for their young teeth. Teaching your children to regularly brush their teeth with a soft touch will help them avoid the effects of missing teeth as they grow older.

Use a Low Fluoride Toothpaste

While fluoride is beneficial as it is helps to keep teeth strong and prevent decay, it is important to limit its usage on your child’s developing teeth. A pea-sized amount of a low-fluoride toothpaste is enough to clean young teeth, while you should make sure to teach your child to not swallow the toothpaste.

While this is important dental hygiene for preschoolers, once they turn 6 it is safe to transition them to standard toothpaste. We also recommend that your child doesn’t rinse their mouth with water after brushing, as the water washes away the fluoride and the benefits it provides.

Drink Plenty of Water

We should all be drinking as much water as possible, and this is especially true for young children. Tap water should be your child’s primary drink as most places in Australia include fluoride in their tap water, which protects teeth from decay.

Avoid giving your child sweet drinks like soft drinks, cordial and fruit juice. While fruit juice may seem healthy, most bottled juices contain plenty of sugar which is harmful to young teeth. Consider giving your child fresh fruit instead, as it contains beneficial nutrients and fibre.

Avoid Sugary Foods

We all love to indulge in sugary foods, but it is important for your child’s development that you limit their exposure to these sweet snacks. While all children enjoy sugar-soaked snacks like lollies, chocolate, and biscuits, the high intake of sugar can cause tooth decay and increase the effects of missing teeth.

Instead, feed your child a diet that includes healthier foods like vegetables, fruit, grains, lean meats, and dairy foods that are high in calcium. Calcium in particular is great for developing children, as is it helps to form strong bones and teeth while also resulting in healthy gums.

The Link Between Children & Dentures

Gum Disease

Gum disease is a common issue but is easily preventable by using proper oral hygiene techniques. It is an infection of the tissue that holds your teeth in place, and is noticeable through swollen, red, and bleeding gums. If left untreated, the infection can spread to the bones surrounding the gums and result in teeth needing to be removed.

Gum disease is typically caused by poor brushing and flossing habits, making it vital that you ingrain these healthy habits into your children’s routines from an early age. If you detect any of the common signs of gum disease in your children, you should take them to the dentist immediately.

Cause of Needing Dentures

Gum disease is a leading cause of tooth loss among children, resulting in countless parents turning to dentures to help return their children’s smiles. But it is not the only cause, as there are several other ways children often lose teeth and require dentures. Injury is one such major cause, with plenty of children losing teeth every year because of collision injuries, falls, and other misadventures.

Along with the visual appeal of dentures, they also help to support your children’s remaining teeth. Without this support, it’s possible their teeth will drift into their gums as they grow older. They also help improve your child’s quality of life, allowing them to eat the foods they desire while maintaining their self-confidence.

Consult Your Dentist

Once your child begins growing their teeth, it is highly recommended that you take them for their first visit to the dentist. Your dentist will be able to monitor the progress of your child’s developing teeth, while providing quality advice regarding dental hygiene for preschoolers.

Visiting the dentist should be a pleasant experience for your child, so try your best to associate these visits with positive emotions. Show them how fun a visit to the dentist can be, while also consider taking them to the playground or beach afterwards so it becomes an enjoyable event they look forward to.