Dental Tips for Parents
From an early age, teach your child the importance of maintaining good oral hygiene. Below are some tips to help you.
- When your child’s first tooth erupts, clean it with a soft cloth. Use a soft toothbrush on back teeth.
- Clean your child’s teeth daily.
- Floss between baby molars when they appear. When your child has enough dexterity at age seven or eight, show him or her how to floss.
- Use a pea-sized amount of fluoridated toothpaste in a flavor that your child likes. Remind him or her not to swallow the toothpaste.
- Have fun with brushing and flossing. Brush your teeth along with your child. You can hum a song while you brush or have a contest to see who can brush the longest, and let your child win.
- Compliment your child on how his or her teeth look after brushing and flossing.
- Limit the amount of sugary snacks and drinks that you give your child. Sugar produces acid and promotes tooth decay.
- Take your child with you to your own dental appointments. Let him see how your teeth are cleaned and examined to ensure they are healthy. He or she will likely want to imitate you and look forward to a dental appointment.
- Choose a dentist who loves treating children. Otherwise, your child may become anxious or nervous about dental appointments. Many adults who have anxiety about dental appointments had bad dental experiences during childhood. Your child’s long-term oral health is affected by the dental experiences he or she has now.
- Allow us to place dental sealants on your child’s teeth. Sealants are applied to back teeth and bond to the chewing surfaces to protect teeth from decay.
Please contact us by phone at (408) 267-2550 or by mail at 1660 Hillsdale Ave, Suite 130, San Jose, CA 95124
