Safeguarding Your Preschooler's Teeth by Teaching Healthy Habits

If visits to the dentist are traumatic for you as an adult, imagine what they must be like for your younger children. It’s tempting to ignore the early years of a little ones dental health on the assumption that adult teeth will come in soon enough and a guppy smile won’t matter. However starting your children off at a young age will build good habit in the long run.

You may think that sugar alone is the culprit but it’s actually when and how your children eats that causes cavities. Sugar hides in carbohydrates as well as chocolate and sodas.

Here are few tips to keep your preschooler’s teeth in tip top shape:

• Help your children clean their teeth. Little hands find it hard to manipulate a brush effectively and preschoolers need a bit of assistance not to miss the back teeth. A good rule of thumb is to help them brush till they either lose their first tooth or they have hit the age of 6 or 7 and begin to understand the importance of a clean mouth.

• Don’t clean teeth just after eating. The acids fruit in particular oranges and grapefruits can weaken enamel on the teeth. Without enamel this leaves your child susceptible to cavities. If your child likes a bedtime snack or drink then make sure they wash their mouth out with water before they brush.

• Be wary of no added sugar. Sweeteners can cause just as much damage to children’s teeth as sugary sodas do. Milk and water are best for a child and also try to limit their sweets intake.

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