Looking after your oral health is a lot more important than you think. You might believe that what happens in your mouth, stays in your mouth but poor oral hygiene can have effects far beyond your teeth and gums. Imagine your mouth as the gateway to the rest of your body and you begin to see the importance of looking after it, especially when started at a young age.
Children who have good oral health will be happier and healthier. We might be tempted to think that baby teeth don’t matter but there are many reasons why we should make oral hygiene a top priority right from the offset. For Invisalign braces in Cardiff, visit http://cathedraldentalclinic.com/orthodontics-cardiff/invisalign-cardiff/
Teaching proper methods of cleaning at a young age will set a good routine and this knowledge and practice will stay with them as they grow and become independent cleaners. They are also less likely to experience dental issues as they approach adulthood. Most of us know that we should brush and floss at least twice a day. We also know that we shouldn’t have too many overly sugary treats but a child who doesn’t look after their teeth will have pain and discomfort which might distract them at school and prevent them from enjoying daily activities.
Poor dental health can lead to your child being exposed to a range of germs that can enter into cavities form the environment and cause infection. Germs can enter the bloodstream directly through sores in the mouth and when you know this, you can appreciate the importance of establishing a regular and thorough dental hygiene routine.
A parent should begin to clean a baby’s teeth as soon as they appear through the gum. Children should be able to brush their own teeth under supervision from about the age of six. Children under the age of three should just have a smear of toothpaste but over the age of three to about six years of age, a pea-sized amount is just right. Starting a regular routine early on in life will undoubtedly save you time and effort in the future as corrective dentistry can be expensive.
Brushing should take about two minutes and be done twice a day. To make this more of a fun activity you can buy an electric toothbrush and decorate it with stickers, buy a special toothbrushing timer and use a mirror to help show your child where the brush is cleaning and where they need to clean.
As soon as your child’s first teeth appear, take them along with you to the dentist so as to familiarize them with the environment. Just a simple sit on the chair and opening their mouths for the dentist will be good practice and make them feel more confident about going again in the future. Remember to try and stay calm, positive and try to make the visit fun so as to prevent future nerve problems when it’s time to go to an appointment.
