5 New Year Resolutions for a Healthier Smile
These are 5 New Year’s Resolutions we recommend for your child’s oral health. From switching out sugary drinks and focusing more on timely dental appointments, here’s how to ensure your child’s dental health in 2018 and beyond.
1. Encourage your children to make water the beverage of choice. When it comes to oral health, the benefits of proper hydration are well documented: water can rinse away sugars, it helps prevent dry mouth which tends to be the cause for bad breath, and it will help to maintain a healthy pH level. Water is neutral, with a pH of approximately 7.0. Acidic foods and beverages weaken the tooth enamel. The regular consumption of water as opposed to other drinks like soda or fruit juices hydrates the tissues in the mouth and reduces the consumption of harmful acids.
2. Time to start flossing. For developing children, there may be a gray area where flossing will take a backseat to regular brushing. As soon as a child’s teeth fit tightly together between the ages of three and six, parents should regularly floss their teeth until they gain the ability to do it themselves. Children will usually develop the dexterity to floss on their own by age 10.
3. Increase the consumption of whole foods. Processed foods tend to be formulated with sugar and starch, which can break down and be harmful to the teeth enamel and gumline. Whole foods have more fiber and crunch to it, which will naturally cleanse the surface of the teeth. There’s also the vitamin content of these foods, which are only beneficial for tooth development.
4. When was the last dental appointment? Regular dentist visits are essential to ensure that their tooth and jaw are developing appropriately. Ask Carolina Smiles Dentistry for automatic text and email reminders or phone calls to help you stay on track with cleanings, checkups, and assessments.
5. Resolving dental issues do not have to be traumatic. Many people tend to be resistant when it comes to dental work because of past traumatic experiences. You can normalize these experiences by educating children about oral health, the role of the doctor, and even the individual tools in a dentist’s repertoire. That way they won’t be scared by the sights and sounds of a dental office. Carolina Smiles Dentistry’s staff is trained to help children feel comfortable and well taken care of.
Contact our office today at 919-620-6700 for your child’s next pediatric appointment. We’ll keep your child smiling!
