Hi, it's Mia Armonde here to talk to you about family dentistry. As my small family grew into a large one, I found myself at the dental office on a regular basis. Every six months, the kids would go into the dentist for a cleaning or repairs to their teeth. During that time, I took an interest in the various ways the dental tools were evolving. Tools used in the dental industry have grown in leaps and bounds in the last few decades. For example, my kids went from hearing the dental drill to wearing headphones that completely canceled out the sound. Each time we go back into the dentist, I take a close look at the improvements that have arisen since the last visit. The results are astounding. I will cover my findings on this site, so you can also enjoy the improvements to dental tools and techniques.
Good habits begin in childhood. This could not be more true when it comes to dental care. Not only will developing good habits during childhood ensure your child keeps taking care of his or her teeth for years to come, but it will also keep the baby teeth healthy. Healthy baby teeth lead to properly placed adult teeth -- which serve your child for life. Here's a look at three great dental habits to work on with your kindergartener.
Habit #1: Set a timer to brush teeth.
Kindergarteners are usually brushing their teeth themselves with little to no help from their parents. One of the best ways to ensure they do a good job is to set a timer when they brush their teeth. Set it for 2 minutes, and don't let them stop until the timer goes off. This will teach them to be thorough when they brush. They may not keep using the timer for the rest of their life, but they will likely retain the habit of taking their time and doing a good job.
Habit #2: Rinsing their mouth with water after eating.
When you (or your child) eat any food, the carbohydrates in that food sit on the teeth and feed oral bacteria. This can lead to tooth decay. While brushing after every meal is ideal, it's rarely realistic. However, taking a few sips of water at the end of a meal is very realistic and will do a pretty good job of rinsing sugar off the teeth. Teach your child to always drink some water at the end of their meal. Make sure you send them to school with a water bottle in their lunch so that this is possible.
Habit #3: Drinking non-sugary beverages.
What you feed your child will impact the foods and beverages they like for the rest of their life. So, one of the most important things you can do for your kindergartener's ongoing dental health is give them mostly non-sugary drinks. Opt for water as often as possible. If they're open to drinking tea, you can give them some (unsweetened) tea, too. Avoid giving your child soda and sports drinks. Doing so does more damage than just introducing the teeth to sugar; it makes them more likely to seek out sugary beverages later on.
To learn more about the best ways to keep your kindergartener's teeth healthy, talk to your pediatric dentist. Make sure you also take your child in for regular dental checkups and cleanings to ensure any problems are caught and treated early. For more information, contact a company like http://www.vanyodentistry.com.
Share19 May 2017
