How to Protect Your Child's Teeth

How to Protect Your Child's Teeth
By http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Connor_R_Sullivan Connor R Sullivan

Dental health is the foundation of overall human health. Since, everything we eat has to pass through our mouth first, oral hygiene is extremely important to ensure a hygienic diet. Apart from all the health issues related to our teeth, they also are a very significant element of our appearance. Perfectly aligned teeth enhance the beauty of a person's smile and help in leaving a good impression. Even if someone lacks that, orthodontics can be of much help. However, Braces might only help with cosmetic issues not the strength and health of teeth.

What helps in having strong and healthy teeth is proper and daily dental care. This care should be taken from the early years of childhood. Therefore, it is up to parents to make sure that their child grows up with perfectly strong teeth. There are many things parents can do about it, but it is important to understand a child's teeth and the likely problems that can affect them.

The very first teeth a child develops are called milk teeth. Usually there are twenty milk teeth, and all of them are developed by the age of four. They eventually start to fall out and by the age of twelve, in most children their permanent teeth start erupting. Proper care and hygiene habits employed for milk teeth play a very important role in the development of permanent ones.

Cavities, tooth decay and erosion are a few of the most common problems that can affect the dental health of a child. Bacteria are naturally present in our mouth. These bacteria feed on sugar in our food, which turns into acid. This acid can harm the outer layer of a tooth and make it prone to decay. If this decay is not handled properly, it reaches the root of the tooth and causes toothache.

The acid present in frizzy drinks and juices erodes away the tooth enamel. This leaves teeth weak and sensitive. This is called erosion. Since it is not curable, prevention is the best way to go. Parents can do a lot to save their kids from such problems. First of all, regular visits to the dentist are extremely important so that any problem can be nipped in the bud. Yet, the most important factor is the care and effort you put in this matter.

As mentioned before, the basic reason behind most common problems is food and diet. Avoid giving too many sugary foods to your child, especially processed food. Sugar found in natural vegetables, fruit and milk is harmless. In fact, dairy products and vegetable rich in vitamin D are great for kids.

Teaching them proper and consistent brushing habit can really help in ensuring strong healthy teeth. Make them brush with a soft bristled brush and fluoride toothpaste under your supervision. Fluoride helps in preserving the enamel, thus making them strong and protected.

If your child's permanent teeth start to grow in a strange manner, consult a dentist before it is too late. Your child will always smile and be thankful to you for this.

Connor Sullivan visited several http://www.orthodude.com/ Cincinnati orthodontics practices for quotes on pricing braces for his children. He visited a http://www.orthodude.com/ Cincinnati braces provider for help straightening his adult teeth.

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