The overall health of a child is a parent's priority and responsibility. And when it comes to ensuring overall health, parents should not underestimate the importance of protecting young children's teeth from cavities or tooth decay.
Unfortunately, however, in Australia, cases of childhood tooth decay are on the rise.
Research reveals that one-quarter of Australian kids have cavities that require dental filling. Also, one in ten children needs tooth extraction due to tooth decay. Most young kids today do not have good enough oral health practices, which parents should have cultivated in them.
If you do not want your children to become a part of such statistics, we at Bayside Smiles can help.
Our dental team in Melbourne, which includes highly experienced and skilled children's dentists, offers extensive treatments for protecting children's teeth. Likewise, we provide guidance on how to instil good oral habits in young children.
To help parents with this goal, we have rounded up below eight key cavity prevention practices, particularly for really young children.
1. Avoid Sharing Food and Utensils with Little Ones
Babies and toddlers don't naturally have mouth bacteria that lead to tooth decay. Instead, they only get them through exposure to the bacteria. This commonly occurs when they share food and eating utensils with adults.
That said, if you do not want such cavity-causing bacteria to proliferate, it is competent (and not to mention hygienic) to not share food and utensils with them.
2. Invest in Child-Friendly Products
Purchasing appealing yet effective oral care devices such as cute baby toothbrushes and kid's dental floss is one of the easiest ways to encourage your children to keep up with brushing and flossing.
If they like what they are using, establishing an effective dental routine will not be too much of a struggle.
3. Don't Put Children to Bed with Bottles or Drinks
Some parents put their babies or toddlers to bed with a bottle of milk or a sugary beverage. This is a big no-no.
Make sure your little ones are done drinking before brushing their teeth for bed. The sugar content of milk and other beverages will interact with mouth bacteria which can lead to cavities.
Additionally, when children are asleep, their salivary glands ease up on saliva production, which means that mouth bacteria do not get flushed away and are allowed to increase.
But, if your children need their bottle for bed, make sure it only has plain water.
4. Limit Your Child's Sweets
Sugar is one of the most significant variables in the equation for tooth decay. This is because bacteria in the mouth use the sugar from beverages and solid food to produce acids that cause teeth to decay.
Also, sugary food is unsuitable for children's health, so avoid giving your children candies, baked treats and sugary drinks as much as possible.
5. Provide Healthier Snacks
Natural foods known to boost oral health include cheese, strawberries and green leafy vegetables. Incorporate more of these into your child's meals to strengthen their teeth against harmful bacteria.
6. Pay Attention to How Your Child Brushes Teeth
We always advise our young 'brushers' to brush their teeth gently and in a downward flicking motion. This will prevent teeth from getting scratched and scarred, which may lead to cavities.
7. Pay Attention to How Long Your Child Brushes
If your children have already developed motor skills for tooth brushing, ensure they are doing the task correctly.
Apart from the proper downward motion for the brush, insist on a specific length of time for the task. Proper brushing should take as long as two to three minutes.
One of the ways to make those two to three minutes fun for the kids is to find a toothbrushing anthem. Look for a song the kids like that is two to three minutes long, and make sure they brush their teeth throughout the song.
8. Always Use Fluoride Toothpaste
Fluoride serves as a protective barrier for teeth. At the same time, it can strengthen teeth and make them less susceptible to the acids that cause tooth decay.
Fluoride toothpaste is the best source if you want your children's teeth to be protected with fluoride.
But apart from this, you can also request a fluoride rinse every time your little ones visit the dentist.
When choosing a fluoride toothpaste for the young ones, ensure the product only has 600ppm of fluoride content. Anything higher may lead to enamel fluorosis. This is a dental condition wherein white spots or brownish stains develop on the tooth surface.
So these are our best practices for preventing cavities in young children.
These strategies are easy to implement and can make a huge difference in your little ones' oral health.
Contact a Children's Dentist in Moorabbin or Black Rock
Always check out Bayside Smiles' blog section for more information on proper oral care.