One of the most important things you can do for the dental health of your child is to teach them good habits that they’ll carry throughout their life. Similarly, breaking bad habits is just as important. Today our pediatric dentistry team discusses some of the common bad dental habits we see kids have, and what you can do to help break them.
Sucking on Their Thumb
When your child was a small baby, sucking on their thumb was a comfort, but as they get older, it’s a habit that they’ll need to break. Toddlers often hold onto this bad habit and it can cause misalignment in their teeth. Our pediatric dentistry team recommends giving them something else to occupy their hands and teach them that sticking their thumb in their mouth is something that they shouldn’t do anymore. This also applies to pacifiers. Many children want to hold onto their pacifiers as long as possible, but it’s important to gradually wean them off them once they’re no longer infants.
Related Post: Pediatric Dentistry: How To Prevent Thumb Sucking
Brushing Their Teeth Too Hard
As you teach your child to brush their teeth on their own, it’s important to explain every step of the process. Children often like to brush hard, because it feels like they’re really cleaning their teeth. Brushing too hard can cause damage to their gums and teeth. Stress to them that brushing gently is the best way, and that it’s how big kids brush. This will help them understand the importance of brushing gently and give them motive to do so. Of course, our pediatric dentistry team at Parkcrest can always teach them the best way to brush too!
Related Post: Good Early Dental Habits For Kids Can Lead To A Lifetime Of Exceptional Dental Health And Happy Smiles!
Having Sugary Snack and Drinks
Most kids love sugary snacks and drinks – it’s practically unavoidable. The key is to let them have these treats in extreme moderation. Even fruit juices like apple juice are extremely high in sugar, so be careful what you buy and be sure to look at the ingredients. Teach your children that these sugary snack and treats are only meant to be had every once in awhile. Luckily, this is one of the easier habits to moderate, because they only have access to these treats if you give it to them. Still, it’s important to teach them about moderation so they can carry the lesson into their later years.
Related Post: General Dentistry Tips: Worst Drinks For Teeth
Come to Parkcrest Dental
Our pediatric dentistry team is more than happy to help and give you advice on your child’s dental care. Don’t forget that one of the best habits you can teach them is going to the dentist for their biannual cleaning! Contact Parkcrest Dental today to schedule a pediatric dentistry or general dentistry appointment.
