If you have an infant or toddler, you may not have thought too much about his oral health. After all, your child probably doesn’t have many teeth at this age. However, when your child is young, you should begin taking actions to ensure your child’s good oral health.
One thing you can do to ensure that your infant or toddler has good oral health is to see a childrens dentist in Oakton VA before he turns one. This is important because seeing the child at a young age can acquaint him with the dentist and get him comfortable and used to having oral check-ups. Also, the dentist can check and see if all is on-track with your child’s oral development. For this reason, be sure to consult a childrens dentist in Oakton VA before the age of one.
Many parents don’t think to care for their children’s oral health if their children don’t yet have teeth. Though your children may not have teeth yet, you still need to prevent plaque from building up on the gums. You can do this by taking a wet rag and gently washing his gums after he eats. This will keep his gums clean and prevent plaque from accumulating.
If you have an infant or toddler, you likely give him bottles or no-spill cups. However, one mistake parents make when putting their children to sleep is placing them in bed with a bottle or no-spill cup. The problem isn’t necessarily putting your child to bed with a drink; instead, it’s what you give your child to drink that can cause the problem. A childrens dentist in Oakton VA will strongly caution you to avoid giving your children anything but water when putting him to bed. The sugars from your child’s drink could cause damage to his developing oral health. Many people don’t realize that juice or milk (even breast milk) contain sugar that can lead to bottle rot. Therefore, if your child insists on having a drink at bedtime, consider filling his bottle or cup with water.
Another thing to consider when your child is young is encouraging your child to not suck his thumb or get rid of the pacifier. Sucking on his thumb or a pacifier could impact the growth of your child’s teeth negatively. Some children find security in these things, however, so consider alternatives to providing your child with comfort as you attempt to dissuade these habits.
Lastly, be sure to help your child brush and floss regularly. This can instill in him good oral habits early on and prevent cavities as well.
Childrens dentist Oakton VA – If you are looking for children’s dentist in Oakton, VA, get in touch with Shohreh Sharif D.D.S. & Associates for experienced dentists to prevent your children’s teeth from cavity.