Child Dental Care

Tips to maintain oral hygiene in children

After feeding, gum pads should be cleaned with a soft, clean cloth wrapped on a finger
After every meal, the mouth should be rinsed with water and gums massaged with a finger.
Parents should brush the child’s teeth till the age of four years and then supervised brushing should be encouraged.
Brushing twice a day and flossing are necessary to maintain healthy teeth and gums.
A pea-sized amount of fluoride toothpaste for children two and older is all that is needed.
Make sure your child spits out the toothpaste rather than swallowing it.
For young children, select a child-size toothbrush with soft bristles.
Children should be able to brush alone by age seven.
Replace toothbrushes every three to four months.
Use floss as soon as the child has two teeth that touch.
Ask your dentist or hygienist to demonstrate proper brushing and flossing techniques.

Why Is it Important to Care for Baby Teeth?

While it's true that primary teeth are only in the mouth a short period of time, they play a vital role.

They reserve space for their permanent counterparts.
They give the face its normal appearance.
They aid in the development of clear speech.
They help attain good nutrition (missing or decayed teeth make it difficult to chew causing children to reject foods).
They help give a healthy start to the permanent teeth (decay and infection in baby teeth can cause dark spots on the permanent teeth developing beneath it).

Maintain a balanced diet for your child by selecting foods from the five main food groups—fruits, vegetables, meat, grains and dairy.
Limit between-meal snacks. If your child needs a snack choose nutritious foods from the main food groups rather than cookies, candy and other sweets.

Avoid soda and sweetened beverages and encourage your children to drink water.