5 Simple Rules to Prevent Frequent Visits to the Dentist with Your Kid

Love them or hate them, dentists are pretty essential to keeping your teeth in check. Not only do they offer some of the best oral hygiene advice around, but they can nip potential problems in the bud before they become incredibly painful. 

When it comes to your children, regular visits to the dentist’s chair are just as important as they are for you as an adult. Tooth decay is no laughing matter after all, and getting good tooth brushing habits in place early on will set your kid up for life!  With these 5 simple rules, you can prevent frequent visits to the dentist with your kid:

Book an appointment with the dentist!

Yes, this is an article all about avoiding frequent trips to the dentist, but it doesn’t mean you should avoid them altogether! 

Taking your child to the dentist when their first milk tooth appears is not only helpful in becoming familiar with the dentist’s chair, but your little one can get used to the experience early on. The more positive and fun you make the trip, the more happy your child will be on future visits. 

What’s more, the dentist can give you sound advice on preventing tooth decay and identifying any oral health problems before they develop further. That way, you have the best knowledge available to give your little one all the tools they need to establish good oral hygiene. From toothbrushing to flossing, your dentist will always lead you in the right direction. 

Toothbrushing

Taking care of your child’s teeth starts at home. From the moment milk passes into your baby’s mouth, sugary deposits are left on their gums. When left alone, these sugars can develop into acidic bacteria that can attack the root of their uncut milk teeth. By using a soft, damp cloth or specially formulated dental wipe, you can gently remove any buildup around your babe’s gums. 

As soon as your child’s first tooth appears, you can introduce a round-headed soft-bristled toothbrush. Holding your little one close, you can brush their tooth or teeth by gently moving side to side on the front, back and sides of any teeth. Later, when you feel confident, you can hand the toothbrush to your babe as they sit in the bath so they can get used to the sensation. 

Getting your kid to brush their teeth is not always plain sailing. Fortunately, there are a few things you can do to encourage them to get brushing:

• Make it fun – everyone knows that the more enjoyable an experience is, the more willing you are to do it again! So turn your child’s tooth brushing time into an adventure. Tell a story where they have to save the princess from the dragon or brush away the fairy dust
• Sing a song – two minutes, twice a day is the universal recommended time for brushing your teeth at any age. So sing your kid’s favourite song, or make one up to a catchy tune
• Lead by example – children love to imitate you; it’s how they learn. Brushing your teeth together or even letting them brush your teeth will help them to develop their own skills
• Encourage choice – not only are you encouraging independent thinking in your child but offering them a choice will help them take ownership of their toothbrush. From flashing lights to character designs, there are many fun toothbrushes for kids available

Eat a well-balanced diet

Everything your child puts in their mouth can affect their overall health. It’s a simple fact. High sugar foods tend to cause cavities more than any other food type, so it’s best to limit them to special occasions or every once in a while. 

Encouraging your child to eat a good mix of food will give them all the essential vitamins and minerals their immune system so desperately needs to function well. Here are a few healthy snacks to inspire you for when the sugar cravings come:

• Peanut butter and apple slices
• Crunchy veggie sticks like cucumber, pepper and celery with or without a hummus dip
• Yoghurt or frozen yoghurt lollies
• Cheese, crackers and pineapple sticks
• Popcorn, mini marshmallows and raisin mix

Mealtimes can often be a juggling act. But bulking up sauces with veg or as a side will help get your child the nutritional balance they need. Make sure to include vitamin C-rich foods like oranges, peppers, strawberries, broccoli and potatoes to help strengthen gums and teeth. 

Avoid sugary drinks

Like food, many of the drinks we consume are packed full of cavity-causing sugars. If your child starts drinking high-sugar drinks from a young age, they are more likely to experience tooth decay and gum disease. 

So encourage your child to stick to water, low-sugar juices and squash where possible. 

Teeth are for chewing

If your child is anything like mine, everything ends up in her mouth that shouldn’t be there. When she was a baby, it would be the TV remote or my shoe; as a four-year-old now, she’ll just start munching on the park rail or chewing the end of a pencil or her hair! There isn’t a single day that goes by where I am not telling her to take something out of her mouth!

Want to know a secret? One of the best ways to avoid frequent trips to the dentist is to discourage your child from chewing on anything other than food! So remind your kid to take the pen away from their mouth. Remind them not to break sticking tape with their teeth and use the scissors. 

As they get older, they will want to open bottles with their teeth, especially if they have seen you do it. First off, lead by example. Then you can explain to them early on why using their teeth for anything other than chewing food can permanently damage their teeth. 

Your consistency will pay off in the end. 

Reducing your kid’s time in the dentist’s chair has never been easier. Stick to our 5 simple rules, and your child will have the best start for their oral hygiene journey.