What can you do to help take care of your child’s teeth?

Bring your child in for a regular dental check-up every six months. The dentist may schedule additional visits if your child is susceptible to tooth decay or orthodontic problems. Along with regular dental visits, you can take an active role in helping your child keep his or her teeth healthy.

• Help your child develop good brushing habits early in life. Brush twice a day, and start flossing as soon as the teeth start touching one another.
• Don’t stock your pantry with too many sugary snacks. Save them for special occasions.
• Don’t let your child go to bed without them brushing their teeth.
• Ask your dentist for suggestions on how to improve your child’s diet.
• Play an active role in your child’s dental health, and they will thank you in the future.

Regular visits ensure the health of baby teeth, and proper development of jaw bones

Baby teeth hold the space for permanent teeth to erupt in the future, and also contribute to the proper development of facial and jaw bones. If baby teeth are removed too early because of decay, it can result in the improper eruption of permanent teeth and other problems that may require invasive orthodontic treatment in the future.

Many children develop habits like thumb sucking, tongue thrusting, and breathing through the mouth which may contribute to malformation of teeth and development of bite problems. Bring your children for regular dental visits to make sure that their teeth are developing properly, and to nip any problems in fthe bud, allowing for proper development of permanent teeth, jaw and facial bones.