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Helpful Pediatric Dentistry Tips!

Avoiding Early Childhood Cavities

by Dr. Steve Whittemore, D.D.S. | Published August 17, 2018

Although baby teeth are temporary, cavities in baby teeth can lead to serious infections if not treated properly. Thankfully, cavities are preventable! Pediatric Dentistry of Central Iowa has some tips on how to keep your child’s mouth healthy!

Avoid Sugary Foods and Liquids

Sugars found in drinks and foods can break down tooth enamel, causing decay. Limit the amount of sweets your child consumes and have them brush their teeth after eating or drinking anything high in sugar. This will do wonders in keeping your child’s dental health up to par.

Maintain a Healthy Diet

Along with trying to stay away from foods and liquids with a high sugar content, provide snacks and meals to your child that will help their mouth and body stay healthy. Feeding them a variety of fruits and vegetables supplies their body with vitamins, and drinking milk or eating dairy products helps strengthen bones and tooth enamel. Learn more about what a healthy diet can do for your child here.

Make Brushing Less of a Chore

Instead of making brushing and flossing seem like a boring task, try to make it fun by brushing your teeth with them! This will allow you to show your child proper oral care while getting to watch them in the act so you know they are doing it correctly.

Be Careful With the Bottle

Try to limit liquids in your child’s bottle to breast milk, milk, or water. Using juice can lead to increased tooth decay or other oral issues. Along with that, shy away from giving your child a bottle before bed, as sugar from breast milk or milk can cause tooth decay and infection if not cleaned through the night.

Incorporate an Oral Care Routine Early

We recommend cleaning your child’s mouth before  they even start to grow teeth. Gently rub a wet cloth on their gums to remove any foods or liquids. Once they start to grow teeth, brush them twice a day with a soft bristled brush and fluoridated toothpaste. Cleaning your child’s mouth while they are still a baby will serve a dual purpose of keeping your child’s mouth clean and healthy, while introducing them to oral care as early as possible. When your child is ready for toothpaste, using a grain-sized amount of fluoridated toothpaste until their spit reflex develops. After spitting it out, proceed to use a pea-sized amount for the remainder of the cleaning.

Visit Pediatric Dentistry of Central Iowa

Scheduling routine checkups every six months is the best way to ensure your child’s oral health is top notch. With decades of experience in pediatric dental care around the Des Moines and Ankeny area, our doctors are trained and ready to provide you and your child with a positive dental experience. Schedule an appointment for your child today!

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