Many parents visit our office looking for suggestions on how to help with their child’s dental health. Dental health is a lifelong journey that begins the moment your child’s first tooth erupts. As your trusted dentists in Skokie, IL, here are three tips on how to help your child’s dental health.
Healthy Diet, Healthy Smiles
One of the best things you can do for your child’s smile is to provide them with a variety of healthy foods to choose from. Children’s dental health often suffers because of the sugary and starchy foods that they are allowed to eat on a regular basis. Additionally, candies and sodas are often enjoyed by children in the moment but have longterm consequences on their smiles. Keeping smile-friendly snacks around your home will encourage your child to make better-snacking decisions in the long run. Snacks like fruit smoothies, yogurts, cheeses, or nuts are great snacks to keep around your home. These snacks are not only delicious but they also offer benefits to your child’s overall dental development.
Establish Good Dental Health Habits
Establishing good dental health habits for your child will help them grow up with a better understanding of how to care for their smiles. Making sure that you are caring for their teeth until they are able to care for them themselves is key. Once your child is able to care for their teeth on their own, keep a watchful eye to ensure that they are thoroughly brushing and flossing. Often, kids will try to speed through their oral hygiene routines in the mornings or before bed. Taking the time to show them how to effectively care for their teeth will teach them the importance of thoroughly caring for their smiles. Additionally, if your child is enrolled in any sports, make sure you encourage mouthguard usage to prevent any dental damage. Our office is happy to provide custom-made mouthguards to patients of all ages.
Schedule Regular Dental Appointments
As your trusted pediatric dentist office, we recommend scheduling your child’s first dental appointment by their first birthday. Scheduling regular dental appointments for your child early on will help your child get used to the dental chair. Additionally, it will allow us to keep a close eye on your child’s dental development and alert you of any concerns we may notice before they develop into larger issues. If you would like to schedule an appointment, call 847.920.4747 or request an appointment online.