Helping your son or daughter maintain good dental health is important to his or her overall health. Starting from an early age, it’s essential to teach your child how to brush his or her teeth properly, use dental floss daily, and make sure to always eat a healthy diet full of fiber, fruits and vegetables, and low-refined sugar. Dental health affects the health of the entire body and if it’s not maintained, can affect weight, growth, and overall well-being. If you’re looking for a trusted place to take your son or daughter for dental checkups, contact The Dental Centre.
Reduce Sugar
It seems like sugar is in everything these days. Breakfast cereals, snacks, beverages, and even seemingly “healthy” items. While it’s okay to eat a few treats every now and then, it’s important that you make sure your child limits his or her intake of sugar. Sugar can wreak havoc on enamel and actually break it down over time. Making good eating choices early on will help your son or daughter to enjoy a healthier mouth. Offer fresh vegetables, fruits, and other snacks that don’t have added sugars as options. If you purchase sugary foods, then they’ll end up being eaten, so resist the urge to add cookies or candy to your grocery cart. Cookies, cake, and ice cream are definitely delicious, so after enjoying a treat, make sure that your child brushes his or her teeth so that the harmful sugars and bacteria don’t stay on the teeth.
Drink Water, Not Soda
Sodas are full of sugar, artificial colors, and carbonated water, which is a trifecta of enamel-harming ingredients. Offer water as a beverage option and keep sodas and fruit juices out of the house. While fruit juices are healthy, they should only be consumed in moderation, as they can be destructive to teeth enamel as well. Soda is often a choice at school, parties, and even at home. Keep the temptation out of your home and choose to not purchase this sugary drink for your kids.
Consider Dental Sealants
If your son or daughter has deep crevices in his or her teeth, dental sealants may be a lifesaver and save headaches down the road. Essentially, the sealant protects the teeth from tiny pieces of food that can get lodged in the crevices and cause cavities over time. If your kiddo has a hard time remember to brush his or her teeth or doesn’t enjoy brushing twice a day, it’s a great idea to consider this option to keep cavities at bay as long as possible. Talk to your son or daughter’s dentist at the next appointment to see if dental sealants are a good option for your child.
Avoiding childhood cavities is at the forefront of every parent’s mind. While you can’t avoid everything, you can make it a point to take appropriate measures to ward off cavities as best as you can. Contact The Dental Centre today for more information or to set up an appointment with us! We’re looking forward to hearing from you!