Top 5 Dental Habits Young Children Should Develop for Lifelong Oral Health
At Lake Chaparral Dental Care in Calgary, Alberta, Dr. Palka Sawhney Sharma and her team are dedicated to ensuring that children establish strong oral hygiene practices early on. Parents can set the foundation for a lifetime of healthy smiles by fostering positive dental habits during childhood. Here are five crucial dental habits that young children should develop to promote long-term oral health:
1. Begin Dental Visits Early
Introducing children to the dentist at a young age helps them become comfortable with dental care routines. Lake Chaparral Dental Care offers complimentary “Happy Visits” for children under the age of two, providing a gentle introduction to the dental environment. These early visits focus on familiarizing the child with the dental office and assessing their oral development, laying the groundwork for positive dental experiences in the future.
2. Establish a Consistent Brushing Routine
Teaching children to brush their teeth twice daily with fluoride toothpaste is essential. Parents should supervise brushing to ensure proper technique and duration, typically two minutes per session. Making brushing a fun and consistent part of the daily routine encourages children to take responsibility for their oral hygiene as they grow.
3. Promote Healthy Eating Habits
A balanced diet low in sugary snacks and beverages supports dental health. Encouraging children to consume fruits, vegetables, and water instead of sugary treats helps prevent tooth decay. Educating children about the impact of their food choices on their teeth can empower them to make healthier decisions.
4. Incorporate Flossing Early
Once a child’s teeth begin to touch, usually around the age of two to three, it’s time to introduce flossing. Daily flossing removes plaque and food particles between teeth that brushing alone can’t reach. Starting this habit early helps children understand the importance of comprehensive oral care.
Dr. Palka Sawhney Sharma in the media
Well it’s hard not to think about your kids teeth as Halloween creeps up on us and what about baby teeth, are they really important? We have Doctor Palka Sharma to answer all your frequently asked questions which always seem to pop up, this time of year of course.
Absolutely
Welcome to the show good morning
Thank you thanks for having me
So I know you’ve brought in some things to show us here. Why don’t we just start with we’re talking about kids because obviously a lot of kids are trick-or-treating. When should they first see the dentist? At what age?
Well the Canadian dental association recommends that a child be seen at six months that’s because that’s when the first tooth comes into the mouth and so at that visit we call it a happy visit child comes in we if they let us look at their mouth we will give parents some tips on how to keep things clean and then we do fun things they go for a ride in the chair get to see some of the tools that we use and we just want them to be comfortable with the dentist and with the staff and we want that six-month visit to be fun and pleasant for them
Okay that does sound like fun
Yeah, it is
Not really that doesn’t sound like my dental visit. But so, what kind of toothbrush then I know you brought some examples for us. So, what would be best for parents to use.
Well before the tooth even erupts in a child’s mouth you want to use a little cloth that you can put them in there into their mouth clean their gums with them and then as the tooth erupts as they get older you want a toothbrush like examples right there, it’s a smaller it’s just a small enough head to get into the child’s mouth and keep and brush their teeth. The really important thing is where your hands are even through the bristles.
Okay
So you want to make sure that the bristles are soft or extra soft
Soft or extra soft
And that’s usually extra soft usually on the actual packaging itself
And then this one too
Right and then as they get older you want to the brush size gets bigger but same thing the bristles want to stay nice and soft
Gotcha
A really important adjective though that, parents don’t realize is flossing. So, flossing for kids is just as important as flossing for adults is. So, these little floss picks that you have in your hand are wonderful for children because they can get into those little areas, they can do it themselves if you show them how
Okay
And just help keep the teeth clean so you want to do that together to just help create that oral hygiene that good oral health for the child
And I know you mentioned the cloth for, for, the baby, are baby teeth important?
Oh, absolutely they’re extremely important. Baby teeth from the very beginning when the child starts getting older, they’re important for speech learning how to speak forming words and sounds the teeth and the gums play a huge role in that and then as the child gets older eating chewing obviously teeth play a key role in that and then finally when the baby sees start to come out these baby teeth act like pathways for the adult to come through. So, if you lose a baby tooth prematurely, the rest of the teeth can shift and then that can cause a problem with the adult tooth coming in it can come in at the wrong direction, it can get stuck and so it’s really important to just keep a good oral hygiene and have good habits for the little ones at a young age to develop and keep those baby teeth healthy
Okay and speaking of those habits Candy at Halloween. We have the upcoming holidays, as well so what is your advice your professional advice here.
My advice is balance, the key to life is balance right. So, you want the kids to indulge. They want to have fun they want to be able to enjoy the Halloween and the holidays. At the same time, you want to make sure that you have a balance between the between keep with the teeth clean. So, a suggestion I give to parents sometimes is when the kids come home, let them pick out you know a number of treats that they want to keep and then ration them out over the couple course of a couple weeks. The most important thing to remember though is when the child is having their treat, have it in one sitting at one specific time. Then they can brush their teeth afterwards. It’s this constant grazing and eating throughout the day that causes the PH of the mouth to do this okay and then you create an acidic environment in the mouth which can then lead to more decay versus one sitting at one time they brush afterwards
Okay
Really, really, helps
Feel like you’re talking to me about that because this is advice that applies to all of us Gemma Jenna. I know you are listening, one sitting candy for one sitting
Okay always great advice to everybody
Applies to everybody
Applies to all of us okay always great advice. Thanks so much Doctor Palka Sharma for coming in and giving us this very timely device this time of year
5. Schedule Regular Dental Check-Ups
Routine dental visits every six months are vital for monitoring a child’s oral health. These appointments allow the dentist to perform cleanings, apply fluoride treatments, and identify any potential issues early on. Regular check-ups also reinforce the importance of dental care and help children become accustomed to professional dental services.
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Parents can help their children develop a strong foundation for lifelong oral health by instilling these five dental habits early in life. At Lake Chaparral Dental Care, Dr. Palka Sawhney Sharma and her compassionate team are committed to providing gentle, comprehensive dental care tailored to children’s unique needs.
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Schedule Your Child’s Appointment Today
If you’re ready to set your child on the path to a healthy smile, contact Lake Chaparral Dental Care at (403) 768-2271 or visit www.lcdcare.ca to book an appointment. We look forward to welcoming your family to our practice!
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