Teaching Your Child the Importance of Dental Hygiene

When your child learns the importance of good dental hygiene at an early age, they have a strong foundation for excellent lifelong dental health. 

By making sure your child gets regular dental care and learns good oral health habits, you help ensure your child has healthier teeth and gums for life. 

At his private practice in Butte, Montana, Robert F. Wilcox, DMD, offers personalized pediatric dental care for children of all ages. Our team is dedicated to ensuring families enjoy the best in oral health, so we’ve created this short guide about pediatric dental concerns and practices. 

Keep reading to learn what every parent should know about teaching their child the ins and outs of dental hygiene.

Good oral health helps boost overall health

Good oral health practices at home and regular visits to the dentist play a key role in more than your child’s dental health. Research shows that when children have good dental hygiene from a young age, they have a lower risk of many other health issues. 

Why? Because diseases like gingivitis that start in your child’s mouth can trigger inflammation that spreads to other areas of the body. This includes infections and inflammation in the brain. Teach your child that good oral health is a part of their overall health. 

Brushing and flossing helps keep cavities away

If your child wants to avoid extra trips to the dentist’s chair, teach them that regular brushing helps keep cavities away. In fact, regular brushing is one of the best ways to keep early childhood caries from developing. 

It’s best if you start early — even before their first tooth erupts. This helps make regular tooth brushing part of their daily routine. Enlist your child’s help in selecting an age-appropriate toothbrush, and talk to Dr. Wilcox about a child-friendly demonstration on the right way to brush teeth. 

Use a child-friendly toothpaste with added fluoride, as recommended by the American Dental Association and the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry. And be sure to include flossing during tooth brushing time.

Flossing is essential for oral health, since it cleans the areas of your child’s teeth that tooth brushing can’t reach. This helps remove cavity-causing plaque and helps your child build a healthy habit of flossing every day.  

Protective treatments mean healthier teeth

Talk to your child about the role preventive protective measures mean for their oral health. Scheduling regular dental visits for checkups is a good first step. 

The American Dental Association urges parents to bring children in for their first dental exam before they turn one year, with follow-ups twice a year every year. 

We provide boosting treatments, like dental sealants and topical fluoride, to keep cavities at bay. Plus, regular visits to the dentist teach children that dental care is nothing to fear, limiting future dental anxiety. 

Fluoride treatments are safe for use and help your child build stronger teeth, since it promotes the retention of the minerals your child’s teeth need to grow strong, healthy dental enamel. If your child has signs of cavities, Dr. Wilcox may prescribe a special fluoride treatment or supplement. 

Are you ready for more information about the importance of childhood dental hygiene? Schedule a pediatric appointment today with Dr. Wilcox at our Butte, Montana, office.