Children learn best from their parents, so it’s important that your kids learn healthy dental hygiene habits from Mom and Dad. Start instilling good practices early, and your children will carry on beneficial habits well into adulthood. Important basics to master in childhood include daily brushing and flossing, plus a focus on healthy foods and beverages that won’t cause tooth decay or gum disease. Visit a children’s dentist with your kids as early as their first birthday to make sure their dental health is off to a good start.
5 Healthy Teeth Habits to Teach Your Children
1. Skip juice and opt for water: Juice boxes are frequently marketed as beneficial for children, but fruit juice is often packed with sugar that wreaks havoc on your children’s teeth. Sugar reacts with the bacteria in saliva to become an acid that erodes tooth enamel, which leads to tooth decay. Encourage your children to drink plenty of water as their primary beverage of choice.
2. Eat healthy with sweets in moderation: Sweets should be treats, not a frequent occurrence. A healthy diet is just as important to your dental health as it is to your overall health. Sugary and starchy foods lead to tooth decay. Healthy habits can prevent future issues like root canal infection.
3. Floss daily: Flossing is an important habit to teach your children early in life, so they practice it daily well into adulthood.
4. Visit the dentist for cleanings and check-ups: You can take your child to a family dentist for the first time near their first birthday or within six months of their first tooth erupting. It is also OK to wait until the children’s second birthday for their initial dental cleaning and check-up.
5. Brush teeth twice daily, once in the morning and once at night: Proper teeth brushing is vital to maintain the health of teeth. Teach your children to brush twice daily to remove plaque build-up.
ABOUT YOUR SHREWSBURY DENTISTS:
At Modern Dentistry, Todd A. Pizzi, DDS, and Luciana Messina, DDS, are dedicated to providing high-quality cosmetic, restorative, and preventive dentistry services to patients and families in Shrewsbury, Worcester, North and South Grafton, Westborough, Southborough, Northborough, Boylston, Hopkinton, Millbury, and all surrounding communities. To schedule your next appointment, contact our office by calling (508) 842-6356 today.
