Healthy Habits Make Happy Smiles
Visiting the dentist, not exactly on the top of anyone’s “favorite places or things to do” list. We realize that a child’s fear of visiting the dentist can continue to grow for as long as time allows it to, unless the child is reassured by their parents about the warming care they’ll be in while visiting their pediatric dentist and how it may not be as bad as they’ve built it up to be. Making a visit to the dentist is one the most beneficial things any parent can do for their overall oral hygiene of their child.
But before making your regular visit to the dentist or even more nerve racking- the first ever visit, it all begins with habits at home. Oral hygiene and caring for your teeth begins with developing healthy habits! The truth is, we all love to indulge in delicious sweets and treats but many of these sugary foods can have a negative effect on your child’s first teeth and a long lasting affect on their permanent teeth. One or two candies here and there seems harmless, but here are a few things we can learn about how candy can hurt the mouth, and more importantly, how we can prevent the damage.
Rinse Rinse Rinse
Building up in every person’s mouth is a little something called “streptococcus” which is a naturally-occurring bacteria that thrives off of sugar. After this bacteria breaks down the sugar, it then produces acids that can eat away at teeth. Children are especially prone to this sugar-eating bacteria since they may not always take the necessary steps in caring for teeth after consuming sweets. One thing to remember after eating sugary snacks is to always rinse thoroughly, spitting out as much sugar residue as possible. Then continue by drinking water to swallow and cleanse the mouth of bacteria. Water can be helpful in clearing these acids from the visible part of the teeth, but your child might run into problems when the sugars stay dormant or when wedged in the crevices of hard to reach areas in the mouth. The longer the sweets are stuck in the teeth, the longer bacteria has to break them down and produce harmful acids. In the end it’s not the amount of sugar consumed that will have a negative effect on your child’s teeth but the amount of time sweets can linger in the mouth.
Healthy Practices
Lucky for you, the friendly and knowledgeable staff at Burke Children’s Dentistry know just how to keep your little one’s teeth healthy and strong all while creating a comfortable and enjoyable atmosphere for your baby, toddler or pre-teen! Keeping smiles white and bright can be a daunting task for kids who love to eat sticky treats and candy. Avoiding things like caramel or other soft candies that can easily stick onto their teeth is very important in the fight against bacteria, tooth decay and cavities. Along with brushing their teeth, washing their mouth with water immediately after indulging in sweets, flossing around the age of 4 when teeth begin to take a firm place and most importantly, always remember to wash and rinse after each meal. These simple, yet crucial steps will ensure a healthy oral hygiene and healthy practice for your kids.
Be a Part of the Burke Team!
Now that we’ve covered the basics on caring for your children’s teeth, we wish to see your smiling faces in our office for regular checkups that are vital to ensuring overall healthy mouths. Remember to encourage your child to make a habit of good oral hygiene and make brushing time fun! If you have any questions about our dental services, contact Burke Children’s Dentistry in Brownsville at (956) 541-8888.
Leave us a Reply