Keeping Your Child’s Smile Healthy Through the Years | Riverside Dentist

And since good habits start at home, start teaching your family good dental hygiene habits. Everyone needs to be involved in order to get the habit to stick. Each February, the American Dental Association (ADA) sponsors National Children’s Dental Health Month to raise awareness about the importance of oral health. Our office goal this month is to ensure that all our patients know about the importance of developing good habits at an early age; and that scheduling regular dental visits helps young people get a good start on a lifetime of healthy teeth and gums.

Many parents believe that the best time to establish good dental hygiene habits is right when their child’s first tooth appears but should start from birth. Because even without teeth, bacteria can and will build up. To prevent this from happening, wipe your baby’s gums with a soft damp cloth after every feeding. Once your child’s teeth develop and break through the gums, it’s time to start brushing twice a day. Use a soft children’s toothbrush and minimal to non-fluoride toothpaste until they reach preschool-age, when the amount of toothpaste increases to the size of a pea. Little humans have a tendency to swallow the toothpaste, instead of spitting it out. Make it a family affair to instill good dental habits are formed to last a lifetime.

Children’s teeth aren’t meant to last a lifetime, but a healthy smile is important to a child’s self-esteem. With proper care, a balanced diet and regular dental visits, their teeth can remain healthy and strong. If you aren’t sure about your child’s dental health, bring these questions up during your checkups.

To set up an appointment, call Dr. Middleton’s office in Riverside, CA at (951) 688-3442 or through the website.

Dr. Middleton proudly accepts patients from Riverside and all surrounding areas.

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