Tips to Help Your Child Break Bad Dental Habits This Year!

Did you know that one of the top reasons for a child going to the dentist is due to the child’s teeth not being brushed regularly/correctly? Most parents don’t realize that their kids need help with oral hygiene until it’s too late. This year, make a conscious effort to change those bad dental habits and you will be helping your child have healthier teeth from now on.

Don’t Let Them take Naps with a Bottle

Liquid pools in between your baby’s gums as they sleep and can cause decay as early as six months old if they are falling asleep with milk or juice bottles every time they go down for a nap or bedtime. As soon as your child starts solid foods, stop using the bottles. Get a sippy cup instead to gradually wean them off of it.

Make Brushing Fun

Use engaging games and songs during your child’s brushing time, but make sure you are the one in control of the toothbrush and show them how to do it properly before they take over and brush their own teeth.

Limit Snacks

You don’t want your child getting full on sugary foods and drinks, but you don’t need to cut out all sugars either; they’re actually needed for healthy teeth, but too many is bad for them.

Watch Out for Sugar

Sugar and teeth are never a good combination but there are some sugar sources that may at first seem innocuous that are more dangerous to your child’s teeth than others. Besides your obvious candies, be careful with the quantity and timing of breads, yogurts, cereal bars, juices, dried fruit, fruit (gummy) snacks, potato chips, and sports drinks. Clean teeth within a half hour of offering these foods.

Visit Dr. Botero Regularly for Professional Cleanings and Exams in Tampa

Homecare is essential for staying ahead of tooth decay, but must be combined with professional, in-office dental cleanings and exams to safeguard your child. In-office dental exams are the foundation of effective preventive health care. Dr. Botero and her Li’l Sunshine Smiles team can clean your child’s teeth with tools calibrated to remove plaque and tartar. Tartar, or dental calculus, is the yellow/brown colored deposit that results when plaque has time to sit on teeth. Because tartar buildup is bonded to the tooth enamel, it can only be eliminated by a dental professional.

In-office exams are also the time that a dentist can see what you can’t see visually using digital x-rays. This technology allows us to stay ahead of hidden decay, stopping it before it can become serious.

Dr. Botero can also assess your child’s risk of developing other oral problems by evaluating the face, neck, and mouth for abnormalities.