Tips for Encouraging Your Child to Brush
By Joseph Cheng and Shawn Kim | Published on December 1, 2011 | 0 Comments
As a first-time parent, it can be difficult to know all the ins-and-outs and tips-and-tricks that are available to ensure that children have the healthiest teeth possible. According to Rancho Cucamonga pediatric dentist Dr. Joseph Cheng of Children’s Dentistry of Inland Empire, parents can learn most of this information by visiting the dentist with their children beginning around 12 months of age.
Dr. Cheng says that most parents do not realize that they should be bringing their children into the dentist at such a young age. However, this is a great time for parents to begin learning about how they should be taking care of their children’s teeth each morning and night.
Dr. Cheng explains that children under age seven should be getting help from their parents when it comes to brushing and flossing their teeth each day. The Rancho Cucamonga pediatric dentist describes a few special techniques he gives to parents who visit his practice with their children, and says it is a good idea for parents to sit down on the floor or the sofa with their children when brushing their teeth. If a parent lays the child’s head on his or her lap – and makes sure to sit underneath some type of light source – then that is going to make it very easy to reach the teeth in the back of the mouth. Sometimes toddlers between the ages of two and three will struggle while their parents are brushing their teeth, and this lying position helps the parents control the movement better, says Dr. Cheng.
Additionally, the Rancho Cucamonga pediatric dentist recommends that parents make sure to purchase special fluoride-free toothpaste for their children under the age of three. Toddlers will often swallow toothpaste, and this can be a problem if the toothpaste that the toddler is swallowing contains fluoride. Fluoridated toothpastes can actually cause damage to the enamel of the teeth if they are ingested. Rather than allowing this to happen, Dr. Cheng recommends that parents purchase non-fluoridated toothpastes for their children under the age of three. Most of the pediatric toothpastes available at drugstores and pharmacies are fluoride-free, however it is always a good idea to double check before purchasing any new products.
For more information on the best ways to handle a child’s at-home dental care, Dr. Cheng is a pediatric dentist in Rancho Cucamonga who recommends that parents bring their children into the dentist’s office for comprehensive consultations and full examinations beginning around 12 months of age.
Rancho Cucamonga, CA 91730
Phone: 909-484-9555
*Disclaimer: The information on this website is not intended to substitute for the medical expertise and advice of your healthcare provider. We encourage you to discuss any decisions about treatment or care with an appropriate healthcare provider.