What You Need To Know About Children's Oral Care Ages 3-6

How to care for your child’s teeth as they grow older
Starting at around three years of age, children should start to brush their own teeth. This should happen at least twice a day, for about two minutes each time. Parents should still supervise and check for proper cleaning. Use a small soft toothbrush and a pea-sized amount of fluoridated toothpaste. Teach your child how to rinse so that they don’t swallow the toothpaste.

Start flossing your child's teeth as soon as they touch each other. If at the age of 4 your child still sucks their fingers or thumb, help them to stop. As thumb sucking at this age and older can move teeth and their developing jawbone into unsightly position. Permanent teeth then begin to emerge starting at about the age 6.

Health tips for your growing child
It is important to provide your child with nutritious foods to maintain healthy gums, develop strong teeth, and avoid tooth decay. It is important to get your child into the habit of eating whole grains, vegetables, and fruits instead of foods that are high in sugar and processed carbohydrates, such as pastries, white bread and of course candy. Gum should never be given, but if it is it must be sugarless gum.

Dental Sealants
Talk to your dentist about dental sealants once your child’s permanent teeth begin to come in. Dental sealants are thin plastic coatings that are applied to the grooves on the chewing surfaces of the back teeth (the premolars and molars). Sealants protect the chewing surfaces from tooth decay by keeping germs and food particles out of these grooves.Children and teenagers should get sealants on their permanent molars and premolars as soon as these teeth come in. This way, the sealants can protect the teeth through the cavity-prone years of ages 6 to 14. Sealants are as easy to apply as nail polish.

Discuss your child's fluoride needs with your dentist. If your child needs extra fluoride, your dentist may recommend a supplement or a gel or varnish that he or she would apply to your child's teeth.

Talk about these issues with our dentists and hygienists at your local Smilist in Rockville Centre and book an appointment today! Don't forget to follow us on snapchat, instagram, and facebook @thesmilist for daily updates and specials! We look forward to seeing you.