Dental emergencies can cause a lot of pain and always seem to happen at an inconvenient time. It is especially difficult to watch your child encounter one. By taking preventive measures, you can significantly reduce the likelihood of your kids having dental urgencies. Continue reading to learn some tips from your emergency dentist on how to keep your kid’s smile healthy and happy.
Don’t Use Teeth as Tools
Remind your children that their teeth are meant for chewing their food, not for opening packaging, biting their nails, or crunching on pens or pencils. If may not seem like a big deal to them, but doing these things can easily lead to chipped, cracked, or broken teeth that require treatment from a dentist.
Invest in a Custom-Made Mouthguard
Staying active is an important part of a healthy lifestyle, especially for kids. But it can pose potential risks to their teeth. Dentists estimate that between 13 and 39% of dental injuries occur while playing sports. Ask your child’s dentist about custom-made mouthguards. By wearing one, they can continue to have fun participating in contact sports with their friends without having to worry about injuring their smile.
Establish an Oral Hygiene Routine
Children of all ages need to have some sort of oral health routine. Even infants should have their gums wiped with a soft washcloth after feeding to remove bacteria from the mouth. Once teeth grow in, they should be brushed twice daily with a grain-of-rice-sized dab of fluoride toothpaste. If your children are a little bit older, they can brush their teeth on their own with parental supervision.
There is no better time than summer to establish an oral hygiene routine. The kids are out of school and won’t be distracted by long nights of homework and extracurricular activities. Take time to remind them to brush twice and floss once daily for optimal oral health.
See Your Family Dentist
Every six months, both adults and kids should see a dentist for cleanings and checkups. Dentists are trained to spot early signs of tooth decay and other oral health issues. Getting into this habit when they’re young will help to ensure they have a healthy smile in the future.
Make Healthy Food Choices
Having an occasional soda or starchy snack doesn’t tend to cause any issues, but constantly sipping on sugary beverages and munching on treats can lead to tooth decay and other problems. Stock up on healthier options like apples, baby carrots, cheese, yogurt, or nuts. As for drinks, tap water and milk are great options for your kids’ smiles.
In addition to all of the fun activities you have planned for this summer, don’t forget to take these steps to put your kids on track for a healthy smile for years to come!
About the Author
Dr. Shannon O. Doyle is a family dentist who has been in private practice for over a decade. She completed her degree in dentistry from L.S.U. Dental School. She’s an active volunteer dentist with team SMILE, partnering with New Orleans Saints players to provide dental care to under-served children in the area. Dr. Doyle provides athletic mouthguards for patients with active lifestyles. She also works alongside a cosmetic dentist and a prosthodontist so your family can get a variety of services at one convenient location in Covington, LA. For more information or to schedule an appointment, visit her website or call (985) 809-7645.