Children are born with 20 primary teeth which help them learn to chew, speak and develop space for future permanent teeth. Kids are extremely susceptible to decaying teeth which leads to pain and tooth loss. As a parent, is it imperative to take steps to maintain your child’s oral hygiene.

Begin a Healthy Diet

The biggest culprit of child tooth decay is a poor diet. This begins when the child is a few months old as he or she is often allowed to go to bed with bottles and “sippie cups.” Usually, these are filled with milk or juices which are packed with sugars. Even natural sugars can lead to severe tooth decay.  Our dentist recommend serving water before bed and drinking juices only during meal time.

Establish Good Hygiene

It is important to establish healthy dental habits prior to your child’s first tooth from forming. Begin by gently wiping your baby’s gums with a wash cloth during the first few months. At age one, use an appropriately sized toothbrush with fluoridated toothpaste. Make sure to brush twice daily.

Schedule Regular Dental Visits

Dental visits should begin at age 1 and continue regularly throughout your child’s life. The initial visits will concentrate on parental education and later visits will lead to cleanings and fluoride treatment.

To ensure your child has a cavity free mouth, contact the pediatric dentists at Lindner Dental.  We specialize in a number of services including infant dental care and treatment for children with special needs.