Kids are notorious, and it becomes necessary for parents to take care of their well-being, including their dental hygiene. The big pieces of chocolates and candy bars, sweetened drinks, etc. are not so good for their oral health. According to a study, about 20% of children aged between 5-11 have at least one untreated tooth decay. It becomes essential to take care of their dental health before it becomes a threat.
Wouldn’t you want your kid to have a beautiful, bright smile? It takes just a little bit of effort from your end to give them excellent oral healthcare. However, most children hesitate about visiting their dentists. It becomes your responsibility to make them aware of the need to maintain proper oral hygiene. In this article, we shall discuss the need for dental care, especially among children, and how being careless about it can cost you a dime. Furthermore, we throw some light on the handy ways about how to provide the best oral care for your little ones.
7 Reasons Why Dental Care is Important?
Keep Dental Caries Away
Dental caries, or cavities, are formed due to the action of bacteria that acts upon the leftover food in the mouth. They release chemicals that form plaque, which further causes a hole in the tooth. Tooth decay accompanies several other health issues along with it, including pain in the tooth and gums, swollen gums, infections, etc. If not treated on time, they can spread from one tooth to another and may even lead to trouble in eating, talking, playing, etc. Some children have sleepless nights due to the pain caused by the cavities. If you want to prevent your kid from having any such issues, you must take care of their oral hygiene.
Goodbye to Gum Problems
When the gums become swollen, red, or sore, the mildest form of gum problems, (gingivitis) starts to take shelter in the mouth. You can well imagine how drastically it can affect small children. They are mainly lead to some serious infections in the gums, by the action of plaque. They can also attack the supporting tooth enamel, in the worst-case, scenario. Other prominent symptoms are easily bleeding gums while brushing or flossing, inflammation in gums, etc. So, what have you been waiting for?
Keeps Bad Breath Away
The major reason for bad breath, also known as halitosis, is poor dental health. Bad breath should not keep your kids from interacting with their peers. A regular oral care schedule should be set up to promote better health of their gums and teeth. This would also keep the bad breath away.
Overall Healthy Body
Did you know that the health of your teeth, gums, and mouth affects the overall health of your body? Dental ailments, especially gum diseases, can lead to serious health hazards, like, stroke, diabetes, heart diseases, etc. Although, the chances are mild in kids, who would like to take such big risks anyway?
Detecting Oral Problems Early
Your dentist can diagnose your dental problems early enough, to prevent any further damage. He can tell you several ways, to keep the dental problems away, through a healthy dental routine. If the oral issues are detected early, they can be treated on time.
Effective Health of Upcoming Secondary Teeth
Some people think that children’s primary teeth are bound to fall off someday. So, they don’t pay much attention to it, thinking they are temporary. However, here is the click- the primary teeth will determine how well your kid’s secondary teeth, grows. So, there is a long term investment, when it comes to taking care of your child’s oral health, failing which can lead to serious problems in the future.
Bright Smile
Is yellowing of teeth making your children a little less confident about their smile? Has your infant child lost his/her smile with continuous oral pain? Well, in any of those circumstances, you will have to keep a closer check on their oral hygiene.
Steps to Take Care of Your Young One’s Oral Hygiene
- Schedule a Visit to the Dentist- If you haven’t yet seen your dentist over the past 6 months, it is high time now. Also, it is recommended to take your baby to the dentist as soon as they turn one year old.
- Keep Baby Bottle Tooth Decay Away- Kids often sleep with their milk bottles, and the bacteria keep their actions alive. It’s important to not let them sleep with their bottles in the mouth.
- Eat Healthily, Avoid a Lot of Sugary Food: No doubt the food you eat determines your oral health. Kids should be kept away from sugary food items like ice creams, chocolates, pastries, flavored drinks, and so on. Even fast-food too can be harmful to their oral hygiene.
- Brushing Twice a Day is Essential: Teaching healthy habits from the very start will be beneficial for the long term results. Brushing removes the debris from the mouth and also helps clean the plaque.
- Encourage Flossing and Antiseptic Mouthwash: Brushing alone cannot sometimes remove the food particles from between the teeth. Flossing can help you get rid of them. It’s always good to set a habit for them to at least floss a day. You can also let them use an antiseptic mouthwash to curb with bacteria, infection, and bad breath.
Conclusion
Maintaining good dental hygiene is the key to better health. If you want your little ones to be free of the dental issues, and have an everlasting smile, you need to know the right ways to make them well-informed. If you think they are too afraid, or nervous, about visiting the dentist, you can consult your dentist regarding sedation dentistry. Dentist sedation involves giving sedatives, (mild drugs that depress the nervous system) to help them relax and be comfortable with the diagnosis, or treatments. Today, technology has developed at par, and there are various ways in which dental problems can be treated without much pain or hassle. Protecting your kid’s primary teeth leads to a strong foundation for their secondary teeth to evolve. Moreover, it keeps them away from problems like toothache, caries, gum problems, gingivitis, and many more. Give your kids the confidence to smile wide, with the best oral healthcare available.
