It is essential to maintain a good oral hygiene routine, no matter what age you are. It would help if you took preventative measures to ensure that your teeth and gums stay healthy for years to come. This is all true for babies too! Note that little ones need to clean their mouths even before their first tooth comes out, but the goal to maintain excellent oral health increases when their first teeth start appearing. If you have a toddler or young child, then this list of ways will help keep their mouths in tip-top shape. Here are the seven ways to keep your little one’s smile forever bright, because of healthy mouths and teeth free from cavities!
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Know why you need to care for your baby’s teeth.
Aiming for a perfect smile is one of your greatest motivations to take care of your baby’s teeth. But behind the lovely grin are more benefits of excellent oral health.
Speech development: Unhealthy teeth are culprits of speech defects. If your baby grows their teeth perfectly in their younger months and years, they can say words correctly growing up.
Adult teeth: The spaces where baby pop out are also the exact spots where adult teeth will grow. If you take care of your little one’s teeth, they will thank you because of their beautiful teeth when they become adults.
Facial shape: Teeth are also the reason for a baby’s facial shape. Keep their features proportionate with excellent oral health.
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Watch your child’s diet.
Having perfect teeth allows your little one to chew well and enjoy their food. As a responsible parent, ensure that what you are serving is suitable for their needs and for their teeth!
Here are the treats that aid in developing healthy teeth:
- Cheese
- Milk
- Yogurt
- Celery
- Carrots
- Apples
- Pears
- Nuts
- Meat
- Fatty fish
- Green leafy vegetables like lettuce, kale, spinach, cabbage, watercress, and arugula
The crunchy vegetables are natural teeth cleaners, so you can feed your little ones while helping keep their mouths clean.
On the other hand, avoid sugary and starchy food like candies, gummy bears, and processed juices. The sweets contained in these foods turn into acid, causing cavity buildup on teeth.
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Water is everything!
Water brings a lot of advantages to your little one’s body. It keeps them hydrated and eliminates the need to drink sweetened juices. Their skin and lips will look healthy and glowing because of enough water too. Problems in the urinary tract are less likely to occur with enough water. Using a straw cup for your baby, you can ensure that they drink enough water; the body’s wastes are then excreted through sweat or urine.
When it comes to teeth, water is the quickest way to wash down any sweets your little one has eaten. The sweets that turn into acid when stuck on the teeth for a long time will be washed down too. Nevertheless, use the best finger toothbrush for toddlers together with water to get rid of any cavity-producing bacteria in the mouth.
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Use mouth products appropriate for the baby’s age,
After baby feeding time, you’ll notice the white residue of milk on their tongues. At this age, when babies are feeding on milk solely, clean their mouths using your finger wrapped in a clean wet cloth. You can also use an infant finger toothbrush. These products are made of silicone rubber with extra soft bristles that make removing any milk or soft food residue easy.
Once baby teeth come out, you can level up from a finger toothbrush for toddlers and start using a toddler toothbrush. Add a pea-sized amount of fluoride toothpaste or a fluoridated toothpaste specially designed for babies that have cute packaging and a sweet taste.
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Brush your baby’s teeth at least two times a day.
Ideally, brush your little one’s teeth after lunch and before they go to bed. Schedules are everything for babies and toddlers. They are less likely to throw tantrums for activities they are already used to doing at specific times of the day. With that, set brushing times and follow them consistently. As time passes, you will notice that they are even the ones volunteering for brushing time or reminding you of the set schedule.
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Regularly visit the doctor.
It is advisable to start visiting the dentist once your little one’s first tooth comes out. The trip becomes a must when you see signs of a cavity or any mouth infections. Dentists or paediatricians would know if there is a need to recommend medication or use sealants and fluoride.
Fluoride: This chemical is a common ingredient in toothpaste for children and adults—fluoride coats the teeth so that cavities won’t form quickly.
Sealants: Sealants are coatings placed on molars. The chemical ensures there is another layer of protection to prevent molars from forming any cavities.
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Make brushing time fun!
To encourage your little one to brush, with your assistance or independently, nothing beats making the activity a fun one! You can jumpstart the amusement by allowing your little one to choose their toothbrush and toothpaste. They will most likely pick designs that include their favourite cartoon character.
Next, you can also channel your inner actor and role-play or tell stories when it’s brushing time. Be the scary monster who eats toddlers who do not brush their teeth. Let your little one imagine that their toothbrush and toothpaste are magical, scaring any monsters away. They’ll indeed look forward to the following narratives when brushing their teeth.
After all the fun, give them a little reward like a high five or some star stickers.
Finger Toothbrush For Toddlers From Ashtonbee
If you want to maintain your child’s good oral hygiene, you must take the time to brush their teeth at least twice a day. Try using a finger toothbrush for infants or a soft-bristled toothbrush with gentle pressure for toddlers who cannot brush on their own.
Make brushing fun by singing songs and playing games! Remember though, if your baby has any signs of mouth infections, they should be seen right away by a doctor for treatment. Your dentist can also help provide information about what products would work best for different ages.
Meanwhile, here at Ashtonbee, we can provide you with the best products you can use for your little one’s mouth and teeth. Browse through our collection of baby products now, and get what you and your baby need!
