The teeth of children are essential to their development. They facilitate the proper development of speech, efficient chewing for problem-free digestion and a positive self-image that allows children to smile as they grow.

This makes teaching your children the proper ways to take care of their teeth essential for fostering their development. Let’s explore five tooth care tips for your children to help those teeth stay bright, functional and healthy.

1. Start Taking Care of Baby Teeth Early

Although baby teeth are temporary, they do play several important functions. The most important of those functions are to facilitate the development of speech and to preserve a proper spacing for adult teeth.

This makes it essential to begin taking care of your child’s teeth as soon as they begin erupting. Teaching them about brushing and flossing is something you should do at the emergence of your child’s first tooth.

2. Take the Bottle Away

Developing children often develop what is known as “bottle tooth decay”. This form of decay occurs when a child is allowed to have a bottle with milk or juice for prolonged periods of time.

The best way to prevent this and to keep your child’s teeth healthy is to simply take the bottle away. You should also refrain from putting your child to bed with a bottle, as this can contribute towards this type of tooth decay.

3. Develop a Routine

The American Dental Association recommends that a soft brush be used to brush a person’s teeth for two minutes at least two times a day.

Developing this routine is often one of the hardest parts of teaching your child positive oral care, but doing so will help significantly reduce the number of dental problems that your child may face.

4. Show How to Brush Properly

Improper brushing can lead to numerous problems, the most readily apparent of which is the development of tooth decay.

You need to teach your child how to properly use a toothbrush, especially if your child is using a manual brush. Moving the brush up and down in short strokes is the method of brushing recommended by most dentists and the American Dental Association.

Teaching your child how to perform this will help them for the rest of his or her life.

5. Schedule a Dentist Appointment

When your child is a year old or when his or her first tooth erupts, it’s time to schedule a dentist appointment. This will help to ensure that your child’s teeth begin developing properly, and allow the dentist to fix any problems that may naturally develop.

It’s important that you schedule an appointment with a dentist whom you can both trust and has experience treating children of all ages. Family dental offices like Smith Family Dental offer friendly, patient-centric care for patients young, old and in between.

Taking Care of Your Child’s Teeth

While taking care of your child’s teeth may require a significant amount of effort, annual visits to the dentist and small amounts of work, your child will eventually thank you for all of it when he or she has a mouth full of pain-free pearly whites.

The trick with caring for your child’s teeth is to consistently care for them. This will develop the right oral hygiene routines that will ward off problems like gum disease and tooth decay.