Good overall health starts with good dental health. So, what does good dental health start with? It starts with habits that are formed when we are young and impressionable. This means that, as a parent, it is critical to teach your kids excellent oral hygiene habits.
Unfortunately, if your child forms bad dental hygiene habits, it can lead to cavities and other oral and overall health problems. Healthy habits should start as soon as a child’s tooth breaks through the surface of the gum line. When this happens, it should be brushed every day, just as you brush your teeth. Next, as soon as your child has two or more teeth that are touching, you should start flossing their teeth. Unfortunately, many parents do not do both of these things, or start doing both too late.
In addition to home care, dental checkups are equally as important for the dental health of your child. As a rule of thumb, Dr. Sachs recommends scheduling your child’s first dental visit for six months after the first tooth has arrived.
We know that getting your child to brush is one of the hardest tasks a parent faces. Due to this, in our next blog post, we will offer several tips to ease the burden, and make brushing more fun for your child. If you have any questions about the oral health of your child, or would like to schedule them an appointment with a caring and gentle dentist, Dr. Sachs in Rockford, IL is always welcoming new patients. Feel free to contact us today!