Every parent wants to instill good, healthy habits in their children and oral health is an important part of that equation. However, it can be difficult to know where to start when it comes to small children.
There are many factors to consider: when to start going to the dentist, what habits to instill, how to help them think about oral health in a positive way. Here are some things you can do as a parent to promote oral health early on in your child’s life.
Start Taking Them to the Dentist Early
While your child will spend far more time with a pediatrician than any other medical professional in the first year of their life, that doesn’t mean the dentist should be ignored. In fact, you should take your child to their first dental appointment within six months of their first tooth showing or by their first birthday at the latest. You can take the child either to a general dentist who also sees children or to a pediatric dentist. The main difference here is that a pediatric dentist specializes in working on baby teeth and communicating with and working with children.
Build Good Habits at Home
First and foremost among building good oral habits is getting kids in the habit of brushing their own teeth multiple times per day as soon as they’re able to do so without swallowing the toothpaste. It helps early on to purchase a toothbrush and paste that are a fun color, maybe even in the theme of a show or game your child enjoys. It’s also important to get them in the habit of flossing as young as possible. And, of course, it’s important to supervise and make sure they’re doing things properly — brushing for a full two minutes, for example.
Make the Dentist a Positive Experience
While you may have had negative experiences at the dentist, it’s important to not pass that on to your child. Make a dentist visit a positive experience. Perhaps give them a reward of some kind for a good visit or for not having any cavities.
If you’re a parent in need of a dentist that can work with the whole family, Capital Dental Group in Bakersfield, CA, is the place to go. Our team of dental professionals has the capability to handle any kind of oral health issue seven days per week all under one roof. Contact us today to schedule an appointment!