Adults know how to take care of their own teeth. Children, on the other hand, need guidance. This direction is best given starting at a young age. It’s a good thing that many parents are intent on doing so. In many cases, though, they don’t know what to do.

Kids Health features a good guide for parents who want the best for their children’s dental health. Below are some highlights:

It starts with…

Taking care of your child’s dental health starts even before the first tooth emerges. The teeth are already there; you just don’t see them yet. Obviously, there’s no teaching in this stage yet. What you can do is gentle wiping of your baby’s gums daily using a clean, damp washcloth.

Brush, Brush, Brush

When the first tooth shows up, it’s time to start your kid with brushing. Use an infant toothbrush and a very light smear of toothpaste until around the age of two.

Starting age two, most children already know to spit. Increase the toothpaste amount to pea-size and supervise the brushing until around the age of five.

Taking it to the Next Level

You can get further guidance from a reliable San Diego dentist in taking care of your children’s teeth. Starting consultations early also helps your young ones become comfortable with a dentist more quickly so they don’t develop dental anxiety or phobia. About 9 to 15 percent of Americans (equivalent to about 30 to 40 million people) have dental anxiety or fear. This is serious as those suffering from such are more prone to gum disease and other dental problems. Thus, conditioning your kid away from dental anxiety would help them even after they reach adulthood.

Dental Sealants

You can also get your kid treated with teeth sealants from friendly Poway pediatric dentistry. Sealants are special protective coatings applied to the molars and premolars (the back teeth). These teeth have fine pits and grooves on their biting surface where food and bacteria can easily settle into, and sealants form a protective shield to protect them. This is a must for children with deep tooth pits and grooves.

(Source: Keeping Your Child’s Teeth Healthy, Kids Health)