Importance of Healthy Oral Care Routine in Kids

Oral health in a child is one of the keys to their overall health. The habits that you instill in your children get carried on with them into adulthood. When you teach them how to care for their teeth and gums, you set them up for a future of good oral hygiene. They will be inclined to brush and floss correctly for the rest of their life. 

Your kids idolize you, and they often follow what you do. Take advantage of those little eyes that are studying you, and use this attention to develop their healthy oral habits. Studies have shown correlations between parent’s and children’s good oral health habits.

Follow these simple tips to become a worthy dental health role model to your kid:

A brushing and flossing routine

Your child’s mouth is prone to many different microbes and germs daily. You need to ensure that food particles don’t get left behind in their teeth overnight. If plaque and bacteria accumulate on their teeth due to these food particles for a prolonged duration, it can erode their enamel, impact gum health and cause cavities. Good oral hygiene of brushing with fluoride toothpaste and flossing are both essential to prevent cavities in primary teeth and provide more effective support to your child’s permanent teeth.

Dental Cavities:

Bacteria and food build-ups known as plaque are primary causes of tooth decay. It arises when a lack of thorough brushing leaves foods containing high amounts of unhealthy carbohydrates such as sugar and starch behind. Some high carb foods which you should avoid as much as possible include milk, soda, candy, cakes, fruit juices, cereals, and bread. That is because the bacteria that live in our mouth convert these into acid. Over time in case of absence of correct removal methods, the acidic deposit of plaque will harm your child’s enamel, becoming a significant cause of cavities.

Proper Diet:

As a parent, you should teach your children how to eat rightly. Introduce them to the benefits of eating balanced, healthy meals early on. Avoid processed sugars as a family, and stay away from sodas, candies, or starchy foods. Advise them to drink plenty of water. Good hygiene at home and in school goes hand in hand with a healthy diet. 

Well developed teeth:

If you fail to introduce a healthy and sustainable oral hygiene routine in your child’s life during their learning age, it can lead to a variety of oral health problems for them. Around the age of 10-12, your kids can start getting teeth problems. Between the ages of 17 and 25 there is there is the issue of wisdom teeth, which will only be worse without healthy teeth and gums.  

One of the most important steps for oral care to visit a family orthodontist to figure out an early orthodontic treatment and help your child avoid any unnecessary hassle later.

As a parent, you are the first line of defense against poor oral health in your children. You can teach them relevant habits which will get them long-lasting beautiful smiles. But remember, regular checkups, cleanings, and suitable orthodontic treatments are also vital for your child’s comprehensive oral health.

You can also do things to make their next dental visit more than simply tolerable.  Make it fun!  Explore ways to help your kids enjoy the dentist, so that becomes something they look forward to. Learn more about encouraging lifelong oral health for kids in this infographic:

Parents-Oral-Health-Checklist-for-Kids Open PDF

Creating perfect smiles is what Dr. Satish Pai is committed to. An orthodontist by profession, he believes that a perfect smile is a powerful part of a person’s personality. When he is not working hard on perfecting his patients’ smiles at Putnam Ortho, he is busy writing engaging articles about everything related to healthy and perfect smiles. His other passions include golf, yoga and surfing. Spending time with his family always brings a smile on his face.