As parents, we sometimes take the wrong steps or apply home remedies that may harm our kids’ teeth. Correct dental care in children is essential to prevent cavities, gum disease, and other dental health issues throughout their lifetime.
Let’s examine some common dental care mistakes to avoid in children, and what expert advice is available to preserve their smiles.
7 Common dental care mistakes
What are some common dental care mistakes to avoid?
As parents, we normally try to protect our children from harm. However, kids don’t come with an instruction manual that tells us what we might be doing wrong or how to avoid making mistakes. Let’s take a look at some common dental mistakes and analyze some tips to improve our kids’ dental care routines.
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Prolonged use of pacifiers and bottles
We get it: pacifiers can really help calm a kid down. However, extending the use of a pacifier beyond six months or even allowing bottles of milk or juice at bedtime can cause big-time problems for teeth, such as:
- Misalignment of teeth
- Tooth decay
- Improper development of the palate
Expert solution: Experts recommend limiting pacifiers to the first six months and stopping their use by age two. They also encourage the transition to sippy cups or regular cups by age one, rather than bottles, to avoid prolonged exposure to sugars that can damage teeth.
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Ignoring destructive habits like thumb-sucking
Many young children have specific habits, such as thumb-sucking, that could be harming them greatly. Long-term thumb-sucking or nail-biting may affect tooth development and alignment.
Expert solution: Parents should intervene gently to help children replace these habits with healthier alternatives before permanent teeth are affected. For example, you can replace thumb-sucking with:
- A stress ball
- A favorite stuffed animal
- Positive reinforcement strategies
Remember to avoid punishing or shaming kids for these habits. Instead, we can work with patience and consistency, remembering that they are little and still learning.
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Incorrect Tooth Brushing Practices
Some incorrect practices when brushing teeth include:
- Incorrect toothbrush size: Children often use the wrong toothbrush size; parents can replace them with toothbrushes sized appropriately for the child.
- Hard bristles: Children need soft-bristle toothbrushes for their teeth.
- Neglecting tooth surfaces: Parents and dentists can teach children to brush at a 45-degree angle and to brush all tooth surfaces.
- Brushing for too short a period: Children should brush their teeth for at least two minutes, twice daily, to effectively remove plaque.
Expert solution: As parents, we should always ask our dental professionals about brushing techniques.
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Improper use of toothpaste
Using too much fluoride toothpaste can cause dental fluorosis, while too little reduces cavity protection. The recommendation is a rice-sized amount for children under three years and a pea-sized amount for ages three to six.
Expert solution: The recommendation is to:
- Give a rice-sized smear of toothpaste for children under 3.
- Give a pea-sized amount to kids aged 3 to 6.
Supervision is important to prevent swallowing excess toothpaste.
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Neglecting diet and sugar exposure
Frequent consumption of sugary snacks and drinks leads to tooth decay, both for children and for adults. More damaging than the quantity of sugar is the frequency of consumption. Every time a child eats sugar, acid attacks the tooth enamel.
Expert solution: As parents, we should limit our family’s consumption of sugary foods and encourage a balanced diet to promote oral health. We can also encourage the habit of choosing water over sugary drinks. Remember to set the example for healthy living.
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Excessive dependence on home remedies for tooth pain
Sometimes, our children experience tooth pain, and instead of acknowledging this pain or consulting a dental professional, some parents rely on home remedies. Some of these remedies for toothache or oral pain, like applying aspirin directly to the teeth or using home concoctions, can cause irritation or damage in the short and long term.
Expert solution: It is always safer to consult a pediatric dentist rather than rely on unverified remedies.
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Missing out on professional preventive measures
Thinking that we only need the dentist when a problem arises is a major mistake.
Regular dentist appointments can help children access dental preventive measures, such as sealants, that protect their back teeth from cavities.
Expert solution: Dental sealants are thin, plastic coatings that dentists apply onto the surfaces of molars and premolars, and they can prevent up to 80 percent of cavities. They should be discussed with your dental professional.
Extra tips to improve dental care for your kids
Apart from avoiding the seven most common mistakes, introducing some proactive habits can actually set your child up for a lifetime of health and happiness:
Go to the dentist early
Your kid should have their first dental visit within six months of the appearance of the primary tooth, or by the age of one at the latest. The first visit is crucial in establishing the “dental home” – a long-term, continuous, and ongoing relationship with a pediatric dentist. These office visits are educational, not therapeutic.
Know how to handle dental issues
Accidents happen, and children are often susceptible to falls and sports injuries. Knowing how to handle a dental emergency can save a tooth. If a permanent tooth is knocked out, time is critical:
- Locate the tooth: Handle it only by the crown (the top), avoiding the root.
- Keep it moist: Try to reinsert the tooth into the socket if possible. If not, place it in milk or a glass of saline solution. Don’t use water.
- Seek immediate care: Go directly to the pediatric dentist or emergency room.
Turn routine into fun, family time
Brushing teeth is a chore for most children. As a parent, your responsibility is to make the two-minute time period non-negotiable, but fun. For example, you can help your kid with:
- Apps and music: Use an app that features a two-minute song or game and teach the child where to brush their teeth.
- Reward charts: Have a sticker or reward chart for every successful two-minute brush. Rewards can be anything, perhaps it’s extra time reading a book or choosing the next family movie.
- Brushing buddies: Encourage the child to role play that they brush the teeth of a favorite stuffed animal or doll to practice the skill.
Improve oral health and get healthy smiles
If you combine avoiding these dental care mistakes and the extra tips, you will protect your family’s teeth. That way, you can maintain a radiant, healthy smile for years to come.
Sources:
- Colgate: 10 Homemade Toothache Remedies
- NIH: A Narrative Review on Advancing Pediatric Oral Health: Comprehensive Strategies for the Prevention and Management of Dental Challenges in Children
- NIH: Children’s Attitudes and Behaviors about Oral Health and Dental Practices
- IJOS: Common Dental Diseases in Children and Malocclusion
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