Once kids get their first tooth, parents start to wonder how they can help their child establish good dental habits. As a parent, you want to help your children develop good dental hygiene, since poor dental health is all too common and can lead to complications in adulthood such as more serious diseases like heart disease, type 2 diabetes and cancer. Below are simple tips for helping your children develop and maintain healthy teeth.

Lead By Example
Kids love to imitate those around them, so being a good role model is one of the best ways to show children how important dental health is. Demonstrate good oral health habits with them, brush and floss with your kids, rather than sending them into the bathroom on their own. Instead of treating it as a chore, make it part of the daily routine.

Keep Dental Appointments
Keep a regular routine of going to the dentist for regular checkups. Your child should have their first dental appointment within 6 months of their first tooth or their first birthday, whichever comes first, and then twice a year after that.

Eat Healthy Foods
Avoid sugary drinks and food. This can help with not only your child’s overall health, but it can also create a conversation about cavities. When sugar is allowed to sit on your teeth, it can create decay, and we all want healthy, strong teeth to enjoy the things we love.

Brush and Floss
Brushing twice a day for at least 2 minutes is one of the best way to keep your mouth clean and healthy, yet it’s not always achieved. Set a timer and use a tartar dye if desired to be sure all the teeth surfaces are cleaned and that brushing has happened long enough to be effective at removing plaque. There are also apps available to make brushing and caring for your teeth fun.

These are some great ways to help keep your child’s mouth clean and healthy. Give our office a call today at (402) 420-0999 to schedule an appointment with us. We’re always happy to answer any questions you may have!

The quality of dental care a child receives while growing up can have a huge impact on their teeth — and even their general health — for the rest of their life. Dental care sets the stage for the way teeth develop as they grow, and it’s important to begin with a good foundation. To reinforce healthy brushing habits with children and make sure their teeth are coming in nicely, we recommend visiting the dentist early, with a first visit at about twelve months of age, which is usually less than six months after their first tooth shows up.

Here are a few specific reasons to take your children to the dentist early in their lives:

Baby Teeth are Important

Your child’s baby teeth aren’t disposable just because they’re temporary. They play an important role in your child’s development. Making sure their baby teeth are in order will have a positive effect long after they lose them. Baby teeth act as placeholders for adult teeth; they help your child’s jaw and gums develop in the right way. Not only that, healthy baby teeth help children learn to speak by supporting the shape of the mouth correctly. And a dazzling smile is good for their self-esteem.

Experience Calms Anxiety

Many grownups feel anxious about going to the dentist. However, if you bring your children in for a visit at about the age of twelve months, they’ll be too young to think anything bad is going on and they won’t likely be very worried. One of the best ways to help children avoid the development of dental anxiety is to begin building a habit of regular dental visits early in life. Parents who wait until children are two years of age or older likely will have a much rougher time with visits at early ages, and the children could develop lifelong anxiety about going to the dentist.

Tooth Decay Comes Early

Tooth decay can set in as soon as your child develops their first tooth. A CDC report showed that as many as 40% of children will develop some form of tooth decay before they reach kindergarten. And that decay can have a long-term effect on the health of their teeth and gums.

Nip Problems in the Bud

After children have stopped growing, it can be difficult to get crooked teeth back in order. The process is likely to be more difficult, longer and more uncomfortable for the patient than if the problems are taken care of early in life. That’s why there’s no better time to fix misaligned or crooked teeth than when your child is still growing. As soon as their teeth show signs of these problems, we can begin early to guide their teeth into the correct position.

Giving your child’s teeth the care they deserve sets them up for dental success in the future by introducing good dental hygiene habits and preventing problems from getting worse as their teeth age. If you have any questions about how to give your child the best dental care possible or would like to set up an appointment, give us a call at (402) 420-0999. Begin proper dental care as soon as your child’s first tooth shows up and you’ll put them on the road to a healthy, beautiful smile all their lives.