{"id":255,"date":"2024-03-08T15:18:57","date_gmt":"2024-03-08T15:18:57","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.tictactooth.com\/blog\/?p=255"},"modified":"2024-04-23T15:21:59","modified_gmt":"2024-04-23T15:21:59","slug":"toothy-tips-3-ways-to-keep-your-childs-smile-healthy","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.tictactooth.com\/blog\/2024\/03\/08\/toothy-tips-3-ways-to-keep-your-childs-smile-healthy\/","title":{"rendered":"Toothy Tips: 3 Ways to Keep Your Child\u2019s Smile Healthy"},"content":{"rendered":"
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If you\u2019re the parent of a small child, you know how important it is to keep them healthy until they\u2019re grown enough to take care of themselves, and their smile is no exception. Properly cleaning their mouth is essential to prevent dental problems<\/a> in still-developing teeth and gums. That said, many parents aren\u2019t sure what\u2019s needed to keep their little one\u2019s grin in top condition. Thankfully, your pediatric dentist has put together 3 tips that can help. Keep reading to learn more!<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

Tip #1: Start Early<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Many people assume that they don\u2019t need to be overly concerned about their infant\u2019s oral well-being until teeth appear but that\u2019s unfortunately not the case. You should start caring for their mouth when they\u2019re just a few days old by wiping their gums gently with a clean, damp washcloth or gauze pad. This should be repeated after every feeding and again before bed. This regularly clears away harmful bacteria that can contribute to gum disease which can impact their teeth before they start to grow in.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Tip #2: Brush Baby Teeth<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Another common misconception is that it doesn\u2019t matter if your little one\u2019s baby teeth get cavities because they\u2019ll eventually fall out. The truth is that tooth decay is contagious and can spread to neighboring teeth as well as the jawbone. If germs penetrate that deeply, they can cause infection which harms the adult teeth before they arrive.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Therefore, you should start brushing your child\u2019s pearly whites as soon as they erupt. You can use a soft-bristled baby toothbrush and water to start. Then, once they\u2019re about 2 years old, you can upgrade to using a small amount (about the size of a grain of rice) of fluoride toothpaste. You can start flossing their teeth once there are at least 2 that touch.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Tip #3: Make It Fun<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

It\u2019s important to teach your kids about healthy dental habits so that as they get older, they understand the value of proper oral hygiene. Many children, however, avoid doing tasks that they view as chores, like brushing their teeth. You can make it a fun family activity by playing games, instead.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For example, play their favorite song while they brush to ensure they\u2019re getting a thorough clean. You can also brush alongside them and see who can get rid of the most \u201csugar bugs\u201d off their teeth. Participating in an activity with you might be just what they need to feel more positive about cleaning their mouth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you\u2019re still struggling with caring for your little one\u2019s grin, contact your pediatric dentist. They\u2019re experts who may have a few tips of their own that they can share to help you give your child a happy, healthy smile!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

About the Practice<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

At Tic Tac Tooth Pediatric Dentistry, kids at all stages of dental development benefit from a team of experts who provide a full range of services under one roof. They are board-certified meaning that have received years of specialized training dedicated to serving children. Whatever your little one\u2019s unique dental needs, they have ways to improve and maintain their oral well-being. Plus, they go above and beyond to make each visit a fun and educational experience. If you\u2019d like to schedule a checkup or cleaning for your child, you\u2019re welcome to request an appointment on the website<\/a> or by calling (630) 995-3393.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

If you\u2019re the parent of a small child, you know how important it is to keep them healthy until they\u2019re grown enough to take care of themselves, and their smile is no exception. Properly cleaning their mouth is essential to prevent dental problems in still-developing teeth and gums. That said, many parents aren\u2019t sure what\u2019s […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-255","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"yoast_head":"\nToothy Tips: 3 Ways to Keep Your Child\u2019s Smile Healthy | Tic Tac Tooth Pediatric Dentistry<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"If you\u2019re not sure how to help keep your child\u2019s grin in top condition, continue reading for 3 helpful tips!\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.tictactooth.com\/blog\/2024\/03\/08\/toothy-tips-3-ways-to-keep-your-childs-smile-healthy\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" 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