4 Tips on Toddler Dental Care You May Not Know About

Parents can never start a child’s dental care too early. The difficult part is keeping up a healthy routine for the child’s health over the span of several years. Even with the advice and tips the internet has to offer, parents can still have difficulty in continuing proper dental care with a toddler.

By setting up a firm foundation of proper dental hygiene at a young age, parents help ensure the dental health of their child. As a parent, it is important to practice proper dental care as early as possible; even for toddlers. Below are tips for parents on the best steps for proper dental care with their toddler.

#1 Use a pea-sized amount of toothpaste

While as adults, people may use a large amount of toothpaste, children will not benefit from the same amount of toothpaste. With children, however, too much toothpaste can be harmful to their health. Mouthhealthy.org recommends that parents “Supervise children’s brushing and remind them not to swallow the toothpaste.” Children who swallow toothpaste can get sick and cause other health issues. By talking the child through the brushing process at a young age, you can prepare the child to brush on his or her own.

#2 Teach children to spit at age 2

While this tip may seem odd, it is important for the child. Kidshealth.org explains that “Around age 2, your child should learn to spit while brushing" and warns parents to “Avoid giving your child water to swish and spit because this might make swallowing toothpaste more likely.” By swallowing toothpaste a child can become sick and have a stomach ache the next day.

#3 Avoid too much juice

Juice is a common drink of choice for many toddlers. As difficult as it can be to find beverages for a child, living in a world of sugary sodas and other beverages, fruit juice is not the best drink in excess amounts. Children will benefit from drinking fruit juice that is 100 percent fruit and in limited amounts. Parents need to have their children drink around four ounces or the appropriate serving. It is important to follow the consumption of sugary beverages and other foods with proper dental hygiene for the child.

#4 Practice patience while brushing

It can be difficult to be patient with a child 24/7, but patience is crucial when it comes to teaching proper brushing techniques. Parents need to lead by example and brush their child’s teeth while being patient in the process. A toddler may have trouble sitting still for long periods of time and may have an easier time staying still if a song is playing or a short video is on. It is crucial that the toddler grows up seeing that brushing teeth is not a chore, but a health necessity. Schedule an appointment for your toddler to make sure that he or she is on the right track for a life of oral health.

Explore additional oral health topics covered on our website:

• Dental Checkup
• Dental Cleaning and Examinations
• Oral Hygiene Basics
• Preventative Dental Care

Titan Dental Care

At Titan Dental Care in Sterling, we will customize your treatment to match your needs and schedule. Our professional staff creates a calm atmosphere for you during the appointment and treatment process. We will identify any dental issues you are struggling with and find the best solution.

Our staff will create a calm and comforting atmosphere at the office to ease patients into the procedure. We can help prevent damage to your teeth and set you on track for a lifetime of pristine oral health. At Titan Dental Care, your dental health is our prime concern.

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