Importance of Oral Health Care for Your Child

Watching your baby grow and develop is one of the most exciting things about being a parent. During this transitional time, it’s important to pay special close attention to your child’s teeth. Oral health care for your child should become a part of your daily habits even before the teeth start to grow in. And when they do, they need special attention and care.

Children’s teeth go through a lot of changes in the first few years, and it is good to stay appraised of the status of your child’s oral health. At Samaritan Dental Arts, pediatric dentistry is extremely important to us. We pride ourselves on being a top dentist in Downtown Los Angeles. Allow us to give you the best tips and tricks for your child’s oral health. Keep reading below!

When to Start Teaching Your Child Oral Health

When is it too early – or too late – to start helping your young one brush and floss their teeth? It is a good idea to instill good habits into your child as soon as you can. Although primary teeth are different from adult teeth, they are still just as susceptible to cavities and decay. Not to mention, children often eat copious amounts of sugar, even if they are on a healthy diet. According to the CDC, tooth decay is the most common chronic disease of children between 6 and 19 years of age.

Thankfully, cavities are easily treatable and preventable. Here are some habits you can start teaching your child as soon as they start developing teeth:

• Help your child brush their teeth twice a day, and teach them how to do it on their own once they are old enough.
• Purchase fluoride-heavy toothpaste to support more enamel and stronger support for the teeth.
• Encourage a healthy diet in your child and keep them away from sugar and other corrosive substances.
• Schedule a Samaritan Dental Arts appointment for you and your little one every year, or every six months, depending on your needs.

It’s no secret that impressing the importance of hygiene on a child will have positive results. Children are quick to absorb the information you teach them, so be sure to get a head start when showing them how to care for their mouth for the first time.

When Oral Health Begins

Oral health should start entering the conversation about your child’s health from a very young age. In fact, from the moment your child’s first tooth grows in, you should start thinking about caring for their teeth. Unfortunately, babies can suffer from tooth decay just as frequently as adults can, and it is important to examine their teeth often as they may be too young to express when their teeth are hurting.

Without giving your baby proper and consistent dental care, your child can run into more severe dental issues down the line. For example, untreated tooth decay can lead to tooth pain, inflammation, infection, gum disease, and trouble living day-to-day. No matter how old (or young) your child is, you need to make consistent dental care an essential part of their life. Remember that good habits start early, and it’s never too soon to start putting your child on the path to good health.

Seek Friendly Dental Care for You and the Whole Family!

At Samaritan Dental Arts, we provide friendly and comprehensive family services for all of our patients. We recommend that you start scheduling annual exams for your child starting as soon as their teeth begin to grow in. As we’ve explained, oral health care for your child should be a high priority. If you or your child are experiencing issues or complications, please get in touch with us online or give us a call at 213-986-2933 to schedule an appointment right away. We look forward to meeting you and your family!