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Why is it important to teach your kids good dental habits?

It is never too early to start a good oral hygiene routine. It is important to start caring for your child’s teeth from the moment they appear.

Recent studies have shown that almost a third of UK parents think it is acceptable for a child to have experienced tooth decay before they reach their teenage years. However, as tooth decay is almost always entirely preventable, it is surprising to find that such a high percentage of parents accept tooth decay as a normal or inevitable part of childhood.

Here at Ringmer Dental we have put together some top reasons why you should protect your children’s teeth from day one.

  • Reduce dental fear

If a child has painful toothache or has to undergo dental treatment at a young age, this can give them a negative experience of dental care, no matter how good the dentist is in ensuring they are treated painlessly. A bad childhood experience is one of the main reasons adults give for avoiding dental treatment in later life. By ensuring that your child’s teeth are well looked after you can help to promote positive experiences when visiting the dentist, putting them in a good position for years to come.

  • Improve self-confidence

A healthy smile helps to improve self-confidence and self-esteem. Once in place a good oral hygiene routine is likely to continue into adulthood. A key life skill everyone needs!

  • Allows a varied diet

It is important that children eat a wide and varied diet. If a child is missing teeth, it can affect their ability to chew certain foods and can therefore restrict their diet. This could mean that they miss out on certain key nutrients they need for their growth and development.

  • Helps speech development

Teeth are needed to help form certain sounds and to pronounce words correctly. Missing teeth caused by decayed teeth being extracted could hinder young children’s speech development and in older children can cause speech issues such as a lisp, which may affect their confidence.

Tips to ensure your children keep their milk teeth healthy

Brush their teeth, for at least two minutes, twice a day with a fluoride toothpaste suitable for their age

Keep sugary foods and drinks to mealtimes and wherever possible look for sugar free alternatives

Take them to the dentist as soon as their first tooth appears and then as often as the dentist recommends.

If you would like further advice on improving your children’s oral health, call Ringmer Dental on 01273 813898 and book in for a consultation.