Caring for your child's teeth
PARENT’S GUIDE TO
From 3 to 11 years of age. Your child’s teeth are developing rapidly and starting to become permanent. Let’s talk about that!
Develop an oral hygiene routine
Why is it important?
Healthy teeth are important to your child’s overall health. They help your child eat and talk. Strong oral care helps set good dental habits as your child grows. Poor oral care can lead to infection, disease, or other teeth problems according to our pediatric dentist in Staten Island.
Here are some tips to ensure that your child’s teeth remain healthy and in check:
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Help your child brush and floss including the back teeth
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Be sure your child brushes for at least 2 minutes twice a day
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Start flossing as soon as teeth touch, or even earlier
General tips for keeping your child’s teeth healthy
Brush and floss daily
Good oral hygiene habits prevent tooth decay, cavities, tooth loss, and additional dental problems that can develop into expensive issues in the future. Try to do the following:
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Have them brush their teeth for 2 minutes then floss after each meal
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Floss for them until the age of 6
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Replace their toothbrush every 3 months
Eat a healthy diet
Eating healthy changes everything. As your child’s caretaker you have a role to play in their oral health that you may not have known existed. By feeding your child a healthy diet you can help reduce potential dental issues drastically. Here are a few ideas you might try out:
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Moderate sugary food and drink intake as these are a leading cause of tooth decay and cavities
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Keep fruits and vegetables around the house as a snack alternative to sweets
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Offer your child water in place of juice or soda as often as possible
Learn more about orthodontics
As your child’s first set of permanent molars erupts our orthodontist in Staten Island can begin to identify potential issues that may require braces or another form of orthodontics. When dental intervention occurs early enough it can sometimes prevent the need for braces entirely, which is why we always recommend that your child is regularly checked every six months.
Watch out for the following:
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Thumb sucking: it’s important for children to stop sucking their thumb by the time their permanent teeth begin to come in. A consultation with our orthodontist in Staten Island may be helpful If this behavior continues after the age of 4.
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Teeth grinding (bruxism): potentially can lead to severe headaches, sensitive teeth, tooth decay, and damage. If your child is grinding their teeth we recommend setting up a consultation with our office.
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Crooked teeth: while they may appear cute at first, crooked teeth can be debilitating as life moves along. If you notice your child has the markings of crooked teeth, schedule an appointment with our orthodontist in Staten Island today.
Maintain a dental examination schedule
When and how often should I schedule it?
The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry recommends scheduling regular dental checkups, with the most common interval being every six months.
However, our pediatric dentist in Staten Island may recommend fewer or more-frequent visits depending on your child's risk factors for oral health problems.
