5 Common Myths About Your Children’s Dental Hygiene

Good dental hygiene is an important part of overall health and should be taught from an early age. By making sure your children have excellent dental hygiene, and by teaching them how to take care of their teeth from an early age, you are setting them up for a lifetime of oral health, as well as avoiding costly dental bills down the road!

There are many beliefs about children’s dental hygiene, but be careful! Not all should be believed. Here are a few common myths about children’s dental hygiene:

1. Toddlers Don’t Need a Toothbrush Think your child is too young for a toothbrush? As soon as the first teeth surface, you should start brushing your child’s teeth. You can buy toothbrushes that are extra soft and gentle, made specifically for toddlers.
2. You Can Wait to Visit the Dentist Like tooth brushing, your child should start seeing a dentist as soon as the first teeth appear. This can help you catch any potential issues early and avoid more serious problems down the road. Your child is never too young to start seeing the dentist regularly and to have excellent oral hygiene!
3. What Children Eat and Drink Doesn’t Matter Even though children will always beg for sugary drinks and treats, it’s important to avoid these. Children’s teeth are affected by sugar just as much as adult teeth, and even though children lose their first set of teeth, exposure to sugary drinks and food can still have a negative effect on adult teeth, leading to cavities and tooth decay. Juice, pop, candy, and other sweets should be saved for special occasions and teeth should be thoroughly cleaned after consumption!
4. Children Don’t Get Tooth DecayThis one is definitely a myth. Tooth decay can happen at any age and is linked to poor oral hygiene and to consuming sugary or acidic drinks and food. Having cavities filled is an unpleasant and sometime scary experience for children, as well as being costly to you. By practising good oral hygiene from the start of your child’s life, you can avoid tooth decay.
5. Children Hate Getting Their Teeth BrushedThe truth of this one depends on the child! Many parents neglect their child’s oral hygiene because it is too difficult and their child protests too much! But it doesn’t have to be this way. You can buy fun toothpaste and toothbrushes and use songs and games to make teeth brushing a fun and positive experience for your child. By creating positive associations around dental hygiene, you’re making things easier and happier not only for your child, but for yourself also!

As you can see from the above myths, it’s never too early to start focusing on your child’s dental hygiene. Contact us today to make an appointment for your little one!