How to Care for Your Child's First Teeth

There are a few things you need to take into consideration when caring for your child’s first milk teeth. Here are our top tips for avoiding oral health problems in the early years.

Adopt good habits from the start

There is a temptation to treat the milk teeth as “practice teeth” and to assume that issues with these teeth won’t impact children as much, since they will fall out and be replaced by their adult teeth.

This is a dangerous stance to take, and it could lead to issues with their adult teeth. It can also be hard to break bad habits once they have started, so we always recommend trying to care for the milk teeth as much as possible.

Encourage proper brushing technique

We know that getting your child to brush their teeth can be tricky, but we know that some parents manage to crack the code. When you crack the code, it becomes something that your child wants to do every morning and night, often because it is a part of their routine.

You might need to try a few different methods to get your child to brush their teeth morning and night. This could include adding an electric toothbrush into their routine, trying a different flavour toothpaste, or making it fun with a bedtime song. Speak to your dentist if you’re having a lot of trouble getting your child to brush.

Educate your child about their food choices

When children are very young, you’ll be able to control what they eat. As they get older, they may have more choice about what they reach for. Education is the best way to encourage good habits. When children understand why they need to limit their intake of sugary sweets, they’re more likely to make good choices later in life.

Sweet treats don’t have to be off limits and there are ways to enjoy these that won’t damage their oral health. For example, only enjoying them after a meal and reaching for healthy snacks between meals can help.

Your dentist can help with education so that your child appreciates the importance of caring for their oral health. This will also help to make trips to the dentist a positive thing so that your child can feel more confident.

Don’t make the dentist a scary prospect

It can be tempting to make the dentist the villain, but this can backfire if your child then develops a phobia of the dentist. Instead, make the dentist a fun trip that is always framed in a positive light. This will help your child to see the dentist as a positive influence and someone who is trying to help them, not someone who is going to judge them or be angry with their choices.

If you have a phobia of the dentist, it’s important to address this so that it doesn’t influence how your child feels about their visit. Speak to your dentist if you are worried about how your fear of the dentist could impact your child.

Final thoughts on oral care for children

Teaching a child good oral health habits can set them up for life. Your child should visit the dentist at least every 6 months to ensure small issues can be caught quickly and addressed. If you’re having any trouble with any aspect of caring for your child’s teeth, get in touch today.