Looking after your kids’ teeth in the Summer holidays
14/08/2019 by Dental DesignWe are amidst the school Summer holidays and maybe you’ve taken your foot off the pedal a little bit and have eased into the summer holidays with more of a relaxed attitude. Maybe you are embracing the summer vibes and the holiday feeling is upon you? This is very good news for stress levels but may not be so good for teeth and gums!
Out of routine and not in school, kids can often ask parents for snacks throughout the day and these snacks are often those things we would associate with summers, such as ice creams, lollies, and sweet treats, after all, it is the summer holidays, right? Well, we are not saying to deny your children the odd treat but just be careful not to overload their teeth with sugar throughout the day, as the sugar in foods produces the acids that attack and damage the teeth, which causes tooth decay.
Instead of sweets, try offering fibrous vegetables and fruits, such as carrots, raspberries, apples, bananas, and strawberries, to your kids. These healthier treats will increase saliva flow, which in turn bathes the teeth in natural minerals and helps them to repair. Other foods such as yoghurt, cheese, and dairy products contain calcium and phosphates, which actually help to strengthen your little one’s teeth.
Schedule a visit
It is never too soon to schedule a visit to your dentist when kids are involved. Once they start getting teeth through, bring them along to your appointment to meet the dentist. If you make this a natural and easy-going visit, it will stop them from worrying about visiting the dentist and may prevent the development of dental phobias in the future. At this initial stage, there may not be a whole mouthful of teeth for us to have a look at, but the visit will still help your child to get to know their dentist and get used to the practice environment. Also, the earlier they meet us, the sooner we can help prevent decay and identify any oral health problems.
For older children with all their teeth through, why not book them a hygienist appointment. You don’t even need to be one of our patients to visit the Dentistry@68 hygienists, so anyone can benefit from a standalone appointment, with no obligation to join our practice. Our hygienists will give their teeth a professional clean and can offer useful tooth care tips to take away. The hygienists can also advise how to reduce sugar intake and achieve a tooth-friendly diet, which is all useful information for you and your children.
Fissure sealants
For school-aged children, we can apply fissure sealants. The sealant is a plastic material, which is applied to teeth and hardens, forming a barrier against plaque and other harmful substances. The sealants are applied to those fiddly, grooved areas on the back molars, which are often hard to clean areas and those more likely to develop cavities.
Healthy teeth battle
Vigilance is the key in the battle against sugar and its negative effects on the teeth. If you can encourage your kids to limit their sugar intake a little, brush away the bacteria-filled plaque at least twice a day and consume healthy foods that strengthen their teeth. This, alongside regular visits to the dentist, will set them on the right road to winning the battle against tooth decay. It will also give your kids the best chance of having healthy teeth and gums for the rest of their lives.
If you would like to book a dental check-up or a hygienist appointment for your kids, please call us on 01202 007734.
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