Realistic And Practical Teeth Care Tips For Toddlers

A lot of us here at Pier Dental Centre are parents ourselves, and we know how tiring and trying it can be parenting toddlers.

It’s a tricky but key age in a child’s development where they’re learning new skills and testing new boundaries.

Oftentimes, even getting them to sit still for long enough to allow you to brush their teeth properly and completely can be almost impossible. Educating them on the importance of and best practices for maintaining good dental hygiene can become a non-starter.

We hear you!

As a family dental practice in North Vancouver, we’ve been treating toddlers and children for years, and today’s blog post compiles our top tips for keeping your toddlers’ teeth happy and healthy.

 

Set Them Up For Dental Success

A lot of new mums and dads don’t think about this, but dental health starts from the moment your child first starts teething.

From the first glimpse of that new tooth poking through the gums, the decay process can begin.

Keeping on top of regular cleanings from a very early age helps to prevent that process from taking hold and helps your child’s oral health into the future.

It also helps to get your child into a routine of twice-daily teeth cleanings from the very beginning, ultimately ensuring that good dental hygiene habits are formed that will help your child immensely in their later years.

 

Fluoride Is Your Friend

We recently wrote a sperate blog post all about the importance of using a fluoride-containing toothpaste and the many dental benefits it can have for your child.

At Pier Dental Centre, we recommend using fluoride toothpaste from an early age.

Fluoride is a natural mineral that helps to fight the bacteria that cause decay and prevent tooth decay.

Baby teeth (or ‘milk teeth’ as they are sometimes called) are naturally softer and more prone to decay, so using fluoride toothpaste is an important part of helping them to stay strong and healthy.

 

Reassess Your Bedtime Routine

A lot of the toddlers we see in our North Vancouver Dental Clinic still enjoy a bottle or cup of milk or formula before bed.

While that’s great for your child’s overall health and development, going to sleep with sugary milk residue in the mouth leaves a long time for bacteria to build and decay to set in.

Try to get your toddler out of the habit of going to bed with a bottle or sip cup or switch them onto water instead.

Anything that they eat or drink after their nightly teeth brush other than water puts their dental health at risk.

 

Visit Your Dentist Regularly

It’s never too young to start your toddler off with their first trip to the dentist.

Finding a good family dentist and introducing your child to regular dentist trips from an early age helps to stay on top of their preventative dental care.

It also helps to establish positive dental hygiene routines and practices like regular dentist visits from a young age to prevent any dental anxiety that may otherwise develop as they grow older.

If you’re looking for a great family dentist practice here in North Vancouver, then give one of the Pier Dental Centre team a call today on 604-986-9161.