Promoting Happy and Healthy Smiles for National Children’s Dental Health Month
Instilling good dental habits early in life will provide a healthy mouth that will keep your child smiling indefinitely. Here are 11 easy tips that can help your child prevent cavities.
1. Regular brushing and flossing: Brush at least twice a day, floss at least once a day.
2. Don’t share your food and drink: Cavities can actually be contagious! Because the bacteria that causes them can be passed from one user to the next, avoid sharing food and drinks with children.
3. Visit the dentist: It is recommended to bring your child to a dentist after their first tooth arrives. Routine evaluations and cleanings can be performed as early as age 3 in our office.
4. Avoid frequent snacking: Constant snacking, particularly on sweets, provides the perfect environment for cavity-inducing bacteria to do their work. Limit snacking to healthy foods, and if your children can brush, or use water as a mouthwash after snacking.
5. Eat crisp, water-dense fruit: Fruits high in water help keep your child’s mouth hydrated, particularly useful during a lunchbox meal.
6. Avoid additional sugar: This is good for the body as well, and an important rule when it comes to teeth. Soda, chocolate milk and other sweetened foods and beverages should be a rarity.
7. Consider dental sealants: Your dentist can place a protective sealant on your child’s teeth to prevent decay. This process is simple and can save future headaches.
8. Drink a lot of water: Water should be the beverage of choice. Bottled water is okay, but fluoridated tap water is best. Use a filter if you are concerned about the quality of your local tap water.
9. Minimize juice beverages: It’s best to drink these in moderation. Juice can be acidic and sweet – two things that are not so good for our teeth.
10. Avoid sticky foods: Items like fruit leathers, cookies and candies aren’t good choices for healthy teeth any day of the week.
11. Consider cheeses and nut butters: Nuts and cheese have ingredients that help remineralize our teeth. These are good alternatives for the lunchbox if your child is not allergic to these.
Please call us to schedule your family!
Elite Dentistry
13000 Avalon Lake Drive, Suite 201
Orlando, FL 32828
www.elitedentistry.com
407-658-0103
