Dental Care That Will Make Toddlers to Teens Smile

Helping your child love the idea of going to the dentist isn’t as hard as you may think. Taking your child to see a Calgary Dentist is really just an extension of the great work you do at home – talking to your child about brushing and instilling in them the importance of oral health.

Encourage Your Child To Brush

Family Dentists at Metro Dental in Harvest Hills explain that poor dental hygiene can result in dental issues that have a long-lasting effect on children of all ages. Toothaches, broken teeth, and swollen gums don’t just impact an adult mouth – these concerns are often witnessed in a young person’s mouth and can affect a child’s ability to chew food and gain adequate nutrition. A young child’s early dental experiences not only influence their self-esteem but set the stage for either a positive or negative attitude towards oral health. Helping your 3 to 6-year-old brush their teeth enables you to control the amount of toothpaste they are exposed to – a pea-sized amount is perfect – and ensures that all tooth surfaces are cleaned during an age when motor skills aren’t the best and attention spans are short. Make sure they spit out the toothpaste once brushing is over.

When To Start Flossing?

As your child gets to be around 6 it’s time to introduce flossing into their daily routine. Flossing can be tricky for little hands and chubby fingers – so using a flossing wand is a great tool to get your child used to the sensation and habit of cleaning between teeth. You will still need to assist your child with their brushing as it can be challenging for them to brush for a full two minutes. Setting an egg timer or using an app that is specifically designed to hold a child’s attention can help them continue to brush for longer than 10 seconds!

Teenagers and Their Dental Health

Just because your teenager is driving and babysitting doesn’t mean they don’t need some gentle encouragement when it comes to keeping their teeth clean. This is an age when fast food and sugary drinks can cause their oral health to slide off the table – so reminding them to brush and floss daily, and limiting their sugar intake is helpful. These are the years for experimentation – which means tobacco may feature in your teen’s life. Drawing their attention to the health risks of smoking not only protects their mouth but their heart too.

Dentists at Metro Dental in Harvest Hills are passionate about helping patients of all ages have beautiful smiles and a healthy mouth. For more information regarding general dental services – contact Metro Dental today (587) 355-2524.

All Procedures Performed by General Dentists