What Is the Best Toothpaste for My Child?
Teaching your child dental hygiene is just one of the many aspects of being a parent. Sometimes it can be exhausting trying to get them to brush their teeth before bed or on a busy school day morning. However, good dental hygiene is vital for preventing many medical conditions, so it’s important to focus on it. The right toothpaste can certainly help get your child into a healthy dental routine.
Teaching Healthy Dental Care Practices
Contrary to what some believe, you can start bringing your child to the dentist as soon as they start developing teeth and would definitely want to by the child’s first birthday.
Teaching dental hygiene, of course, starts at home. One good habit you can start at home with your infant is gently clean their gums so they get use to the process. The better prepared they are for seeing the dentist, the better the visit and the more likely they will adopt healthy dental care practices themselves.
Choosing the Best Toothpaste for Your Child
The right kind of toothpaste is important, as it will make your child more excited at the prospect of brushing their teeth. However, there are many toothpastes on the market that, while appealing due to taste or fun packaging, contain harmful dyes or saccharine that may actually be bad for your child’s dental health.
When picking a children’s toothpaste, avoid anything with preservatives, especially for children less than five years of age. If you don’t introduce these harmful toothpastes at an early age, your child likely will not be as tempted by them in the future. There are options out there that taste good but do not have these harmful aspects. Tom’s of Maine, for example, makes a children’s toothpaste that is completely natural and flavored with real fruit flavors, so it is a taste that children like without the fuss.
If your child is really interested in fun packaging, Colgate makes a good 2-in-1 toothpaste that is one of the best on the market. However, avoid using this one with your younger children, as it is not entirely devoid of preservatives.
Contact a Cumming Pediatric Dentist about Your Child’s Dental Hygiene
All Stars Pediatric Dentistry in Cumming works with children of all ages to encourage a lifetime of healthy dental care practice. We focus specifically on preventative care so that our young patients learn how to avoid certain health problems by simply brushing and flossing. To schedule your child’s next appointment, call (770) 242-9441.
