Keep your kids’ smiles healthy with these dental tips in Wichita, KS

As a parent, your child’s health and wellbeing is one of your top priorities. One important way you can help keep your child healthy is by fostering good oral hygiene habits at home from an early age and taking them for regular dental cleanings and check-ups at the dentist. Below, Dr. David Koepsel, dentist in Wichita, KS, provides dental tips for keeping kids’ smiles healthy.

Good habits start at home

It can be easy to think that you don’t need to take care of your child’s baby teeth—after all, they will eventually fall out! Baby teeth serve several key functions and it is just as important to take care of your child’s baby teeth as it is to take care of permanent teeth. Baby teeth help your child do basic functions such as chewing and speaking properly, hold space in your child’s mouth for adult teeth to grow in, and perhaps most importantly, help your child feel confident in his or her smile from an early age. In addition, research in recent years has shown that there is a link between oral health issues and several serious diseases, such as heart attacks, strokes, diabetes, and other conditions, so good oral hygiene is not only important for keeping your child out of pain, but also for overall health and wellbeing.

Tooth and gum care needs are different depending on the age of your child.

• Babies who do not have any teeth yet – use a warm, damp washcloth to gently clean your baby’s gums at least once a day; this gets rid of milk, food, and any other debris in their mouth
• Babies who have started growing in teeth – use a child-sized, soft-bristled toothbrush and a very small smear of fluoride-free toothpaste to brush their teeth twice per day
• Older children who can spit out toothpaste – once your child is old enough to learn how to spit out toothpaste in the sink, you can start using toothpaste that contains fluoride to keep the teeth strong and healthy; continue to help your child brush teeth until he or she is old enough to thoroughly brush all surfaces for a full two minutes and help floss at least one time per day as well
• Adolescents and teenagers – once your child begins brushing and flossing, it is important to remind your child to brush twice per day and floss once per day to keep their teeth and gums healthy and to form good habits that will be carried into adulthood

A healthy diet is great for your child’s teeth and their body People often talk about how much dentists dislike candy, and for good reason! Sugars and starches in candy, soda, juice, desserts, and even foods like breads and pretzels leave deposits on teeth that are a haven for disease-causing bacteria to grow and multiply, eventually leading to tooth decay and gum disease. Instead of offering these foods to your child, we recommend giving them healthy, crunchy snacks such as carrots, apple slices, and celery. These foods are both good for your child’s body and help clean their teeth at the same time, instead of contributing to the formation of cavities.

The importance of preventive care visits

Everyone knows you should see the dentist twice per year, but it might not be clear why it is so important, especially if your child is not experiencing any pain. At regular dental check-ups and cleanings, we can remove disease-causing plaque and tartar from your child’s teeth that brushing and flossing alone cannot eliminate. We also monitor your child’s oral development, watch out for any signs of issues such as cavities, and provide preventive treatments such as fluoride application and dental sealants to help protect your child’s teeth. These visits are also a great time to answer questions that either you or your child has and help make your child comfortable with being in the dental chair so they can form a positive association with being at the dentist’s office.
Schedule your child’s hygiene visit today!

Whether you are a new parent of a baby who has just sprouted their first tooth or the parent of teenagers who are due for a regular cleaning, Dr. David Koepsel is here to help. With gentle and friendly care, dental visits are fun at East Wichita Dentist! We know how important it is for children to enjoy their dental visits so that they are encouraged to take care of their smile for their lifetime. Call our Wichita, KS office at (316) 215-7152 to schedule an appointment today!