4 Dental Mistakes That Parents Should Help Their Children Avoid
Most parents want their children to be happy and healthy. Unfortunately, some parents accidentally make mistakes when it comes to their kids' teeth, which can lead to cavities and other oral health problems. If you're a parent, avoid these common teeth mistakes with your children:
Letting Baby go to Bed with a Bottle
One of the biggest mistakes that a parent can make when it comes to a child's teeth is putting a baby to sleep with a bottle of juice or milk. Many babies find sucking on a bottle to be very soothing, and it can help a baby to fall asleep, but it can also cause serious tooth decay. When a baby falls asleep with a bottle, a small amount of liquid is typically not swallowed, so it just sits on the surface of the teeth. Milk and juice both have high sugar levels, which feed the bacteria in the mouth that cause tooth decay.
Allowing Young Kids to Brush Their Own Teeth
Kids can be very independent and want to do things on their own, but young kids don't have the necessary motor skills to properly brush all of the teeth in their mouth. Instead of letting your child brush his or her own teeth, consider letting them start brushing and then you can take over to ensure that each tooth is properly cleaned.
Neglecting to Schedule Dental Appointments
Kids should begin seeing a dentist at a young age. It is highly recommended that parent's schedule their child's first dental appointment by the age of one. Seeing the pediatric dentist from a young age can help a child become more comfortable and used to having their teeth cleaned. In addition, early dental appointments can identify problems, such as cavities, when they are small. It is not uncommon for parents to neglect early dental appointments only for their child to need invasive treatment for tooth decay and infections that could have been caught earlier by a dentist.
Excess Juice and Soda
Many people, including children, enjoy the taste of juice and soda. However, consuming large amounts of these beverages can damage a child's teeth. Soda and juice are high in sugar and acid, so drinking these too often can lead to tooth decay or problems with tooth enamel. That doesn't mean that your young child can't ever drink soda or juice, but make sure to give these drinks in moderation.
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