4 Ways You Can Protect Your Child's Teeth

Getting your child to care for their teeth can be difficult, which is unfortunate because you don't want to have to worry about major dental problems, especially early on in their lives. This is why you should be doing all that you can to ensure that their teeth are protected and stay healthy and strong for a lifetime. Here are four ways that you can go about doing this:

1. Take Them to the Dentist Early: Taking your child to the dentist early on in their lives is important to ensuring that they pick up good habits. You can take your child as early as one-year-old. Not only is this good for your child, but it is also good for your wallet since it will end up saving you money on dental care. This is because any signs of damage to your child's teeth will be caught early and resolved before it becomes worse. Not only this, but having your child hear about how important dental care is from someone other than their parent will help to reinforce their good habits. 
2. Avoid Baby Bottle Decay: You should never put your child down for a nap with a bottle of juice or milk. This is what causes baby bottle decay. The sugar from the liquids will stick to your baby's teeth, which will begin to cause tooth decay. If your child needs a bottle to help them fall asleep, it is best to use water instead of anything sugary. 
3. Take Away the Pacifier: The pacifier should be avoided altogether. However, if your child does use a pacifier then you must get rid of it by the time they reach the age of two or three. This is because a pacifier can severely affect the line up of the teeth causing your child to need braces. 
4. Be Mindful About Medicines: Many children's medicines are full of sugar. The sugar in the medicines will stick to your child's teeth, which increases the potential for tooth decay. If your child is taking any sugary medications, you should be brushing their teeth about four times a day to get as much of the sugar off their teeth as possible. 

By knowing what you can do to protect your child's teeth, you can be sure that they are in for a lifetime of great oral health habits that are going to save you money on their oral care while they are growing up. Talk to a professional like North Phoenix Pediatric Dentistry for more information.