As a parent, you may have more in common with your dentist than you think. Many moms and dads—even dentists struggle to keep their children’s mouths and teeth clean. Though your child’s first set of teeth are not permanent, they are still critical to the development of healthy gums, jaws, permanent teeth, and dental hygiene habits. From first teething to the development of permanent adult teeth, you can help your child develop and maintain strong healthy teeth and gums with the following tips and tricks.

Commit to two minutes, twice a day

Children’s oral health is very important. It’s time to make this a habit and motivate your child to stick to it with a fun game, a chart or a reward. By making it fun and something you should do every day, you’re encouraging healthy habits in your child’s mind. It’s making an association between fun and teeth brushing and training that association to become a habit. That’s all it takes. Two minutes, twice a day!

Brush the right way

Make sure they’re brushing their teeth correctly and not just focusing on the front ones. They should be using a soft brush and light circular motions (round round, up and down). Time their teeth brushing with a two-minute song to keep them motivated and on track. watch to make sure they’re not using more toothpaste than they should – a rice-sized smear for kids 2 and under and a drop the size of a pea for kids 3 and up. For a newborn, use a soft washcloth to wipe your baby’s gums after feedings. Remember not to put babies to bed with a bottle filled with milk

Brush, Book, Bed: Structure Your Child’s Nighttime Routine

• Each night, help your children to brush their teeth.
• Read a favorite book (or two)!
• Get to bed at a regular time each night.

Having a predictable nighttime routine will help them understand and learn to expect what comes next. Additionally, routines may ease the stress that some families experience at nighttime.

 Keep them away from the sugar monster; Get more dairy in the meal.

It’s hard for children to navigate across their snack choices and make wise decisions when presented with an array of tempting, sugary options. Make healthy snacks appealing. “Sticky sugar” foods such as sticky caramel, toffee, gum, and dried fruit—particularly when it stays in the mouth and coats the teeth in sugar for hours—could do serious damage.  If your child is going to eat something sugary, it is best to pair it with a meal so that the additional saliva production helps to wash the sugar off the teeth. Full fat products such as whole milk and cheese are great for keeping young teeth strong and healthy.

 Thumb-sucking and pacifiers

Many children suck their thumbs as a self-comforting habit. Unfortunately, this habit can result in misaligned teeth and jaws and may even cause malformation of the palate or roof of the mouth. Most children quit sucking naturally around four years of age, but there are some techniques you can use to help ensure that thumb sucking does not become a lasting and damaging habit.

The habit can be prevented by giving your newborn a pacifier to suck instead of the thumb. The pacifier can then be removed as the child ages and thumb sucking will not have been established as a habit. When using a pacifier, be sure to select one with a rubber nipple which resembles the natural shape of a nipple so that there is no damage to the gums. If your child persists in thumb sucking, you may wish to try behavioral methods such as a band aid on the thumb or rewards such as stickers on a calendar can be helpful in ending the habit.

Regular check-ups every six months are mandatory

We can’t stress this enough. Detecting and tackling problems early can avoid costly and painful procedures in the future. It’s a crucial investment in your child’s future oral and overall health. You achieve this with regular check-ups.

~ Dr. Amanda Ferreira Da Costa
(Lecturer, Goa Dental College)