N AT IONAL C HI L DREN'S DENTAL HEALTH MON T H
CREATING HEALTHY DENTAL HABITS By Paige Townley
they will “fall out anyway,” the fact is, baby teeth are important to a child’s development. Baby teeth help children eat, and they also help children develop their speech. Another role of baby teeth is that they help guide permanent teeth into position.
Baby Teeth vs. Permanent Teeth It’s a mistake to think that baby teeth aren’t as important as permanent teeth. On average, most children begin to develop baby teeth between the ages of six to 10 months old. While it may be easy to think that taking care of baby teeth isn’t as important because
Start the Brushing Early Don’t wait until teeth are fully in to begin brushing. Start brushing as soon as you see them, notes Dr. Angelica Rohner. For infants, Rohner suggests using a wet washcloth to gently clean the teeth and gums. Once a child has four to eight teeth, she recommends
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Photos courtesy of Dr. Angelica Rohner
When it comes to parenting, there’s always lots of questions. Is that safe? What food should we be feeding baby? Does that cough mean we should go to the doctor? Is our child reaching milestones on time? What can sometimes be overlooked, at least with younger children, is dental hygiene. Healthy teeth are important to anyone’s overall health, and that includes children. Whether a child is an infant or an adolescent, keeping their teeth clean and healthy is a must. Creating those healthy dental habits while your child is young can set them on the right path for a healthy mouth in the future. Here’s a rundown on what you need to know to keep your children’s teeth healthy and create a lifetime of positive dental habits.
parents begin gently brushing them with a toothbrush twice a day. “Unfortunately, we are seeing cavities in children as young as 12 months,” she adds. “This means it is important to start cleaning your child’s teeth as soon as possible. Brushing at an early age not only helps with avoiding cavities, but also makes it easier as they get older since you’ve already started the routine.” Schedule Dentist Appointments According to the American Dental Association, children should have their first dentist appointment by their first birthday. The first dental visit should at least coincide with the age at which their teeth are erupting, Rohner says. “Be sure to take your child to a pediatric dentist – pediatric dentists are the pediatricians of children’s teeth. It is imperative to choose a dental home at a young age to make sure that they grow up with a positive outlook toward oral health,” she says. Children should also visit their pediatric dentist twice a year.
