Oral hygiene is important to keep kids healthy. Having a pediatric oral hygiene routine for all ages can help your child maintain a healthy smile. You should be starting to practice oral hygiene with your child sooner than you might think. Please keep reading to learn more.
If you want to come in with your child for a consultation or a routine checkup, we would be happy to set this appointment up for you as soon as possible. Please give our office a call today!
Do Babies Need to Have a Pediatric Oral Hygiene Routine?
Before the age of 2, babies do not need much of a pediatric oral hygiene routine. You are more likely concerned with other milestones such as grasping objects, finishing bottles, etc. Your baby won’t even have teeth until they’re around 6 months old.
Once they do get teeth, the main concern for you is less about how to properly care for them and more about soothing your baby as these teeth come in. We understand how difficult this part of parenting is. You’re doing great!
Once your baby is starting to gain some independence, it wouldn’t be a bad idea to get them used to you regularly wiping their teeth down with a soft washcloth. This can help them get ready for a dental care routine in the future.
Toddler & Up Dental Care
After the age of 2 is a great time to get your child ready to have a regular pediatric oral hygiene routine. They aren’t going to lose these baby teeth until they’re at least 5 in most cases. You want to set them up with a routine that will be practiced as they begin to get adult teeth. It can feel like it’s far away now, but the younger you start, the easier it will be to get them into a habit of taking care of their teeth.
There is special training toothpaste that you can use for your child when you are just starting to brush their teeth. You should be using a very soft-bristled brush to take care of their teeth. Guiding them to start, eventually, they can graduate into brushing with your supervision as they get more independent.
Flossing early on is also important so that this becomes a regular habit. You can start very gently. They will probably dislike it for a little while but over time you can make it just another part of your morning or bedtime routine.
Making this a routine with your child is going to help set them up for success. The sooner you start doing this with them, the sooner they will be able to be independent about it.
Call Our Office Right Away
If you would like to know more about a pediatric oral hygiene routine, please give our Calgary dentist’s office a call right away. We can get you set up with an appointment as soon as possible. If you ever have a dental emergency with your child, we can help you get in on the same day that you call. Call us today.