A sound oral hygiene routine sets a path for excellent future oral health for your kids. The care which you take for oral hygiene in their infancy reflects in their later habits. So, you must teach them to practise the “Hero habits” of oral hygiene in these early years.
Apart from the apparent oral health benefits, a sound oral hygiene routine has positive effects on your kids’ overall health — the kinds for which their future self thanks you.
For goodwill and a little practise goes a long way when it comes to kids’ oral health.
Importance of Oral Hygiene in Kids
Baby Teeth are More Vulnerable
The first few teeth show up in kids around 6 months, which till the age of 2 years don’t wholly break above. You should carefully brush their teeth right from the onset of the first tooth — with a baby toothbrush & grain-sized fluoride paste — to make oral hygiene matters easy when they grow up. Remember, kids’ teeth are more vulnerable than adult’s teeth to cavities. And it would be best to avoid the mistake of getting a little too carefree when their permanent teeth grow. Therefore, show them the perks of sound oral hygiene to get them jumping for the same.
Prevents Dental Diseases
Like we said, your kids’ teeth are more vulnerable — due to lower mineral density. A slight diversion from the recommended pediatric oral health practices will be risking cavities, gingivitis, and other dental diseases. Any time your kid isn’t using the proper brushing technique or skipping out on flossing, you should step in right away. Talk to them about their reluctance, and try to make oral hygiene easy & fun for them to rouse their interest.
Aids Permanent Teeth Development
Kids experience the onset of permanent teeth around the age of 6 years. And till then, it’s vital to ensure that there’s no bacterial buildup surrounding their baby teeth. Such suitable measures will protect their permanent teeth during the period of “Second maturation” — as their developing enamel is porous and susceptible to bacterial infections. So take good care of kids’ baby teeth to safeguard their coming permanent teeth against damage.
Improved Speech Development
Most parents know little about the positive effects of sound oral hygiene on speech development in kids. In fact, ill-formed teeth can be a cause of faulty pronunciations as kids grow. To avoid such troubles, contact the pediatric dentist at first signs of defective development in your kids’ oral health.
Reduces Risks of Chronic Medical Conditions
It’s a proven fact that certain dental infections play a part in chronic medical conditions — cardiovascular diseases and gum diseases being correlated. Also, a childhood history of poor oral health can increase the risk of diabetes and stroke at the time of adulthood. So, always keep your kids on good terms with oral hygiene to keep the oral health disorders and their resulting complications at bay.
Saves from Psychological Negativity
Every parent should know that poor oral hygiene and the resulting diseases can adversely affect kids psychologically. For instance, a kid who suffers constant toothache may develop intolerance and an ill-temper. Abnormal teeth can inculcate the anxiety of social rejection in kids — for they fear appearing unattractive to their peers. One common issue seen in kids with poor oral health is the withdrawal from smiling. On the other hand, excellent oral health can show a more optimistic approach in all such matters.
Now, if you have more questions about the specifics of anything, you can schedule a consultation with us to know the best pace forwards for your kids’ good oral health.
