The cost of dental care can be prohibitive. The high price of visiting the dentist prevents many adults from taking good care of their teeth as they commonly report. Maintenance work such as fillings and tooth extraction, not to mention cosmetic work will put a large dent in your wallet.
However when it comes to the health of your child’s teeth, you will want to ensure that their teeth and gums are healthy for a lifetime. Poor dental health can have a detrimental effect on nutrition and self-image if the problems are cosmetic.
Get them braces before they turn 16
Many children dread wearing braces as the process is often lengthy and painful. Not even the joy of choosing colored bands to wear around your metal braces can make up for the pain of having your teeth squished into place slowly and agonisingly over a period of years. However, most grown-ups who wore braces as children are thankful they put up with the ordeal. Best of all braces are free for the under 16s. So make the most of the generosity of the NHS before their 16th birthday and you should save money on expensive cosmetic treatments for your child when it’s time for them to head off to university.
Regularly visiting the dentist
Getting into good habits and regularly visiting your dentist means that your child is less likely to forget to go in their adult life. New mothers should take their children to the dentist as soon as possible. The sights, soundsaces, and smells of a dentists office can be daunting to a small child, but the sooner they go and build up a rapport with the staff the better. Most children get all their baby teeth by age 2 and 1/2. The adult teeth start to come through at 6 years old, beginning with the molars at the back of the mouth.
Taking care of your teeth at home
Although you want to make sure that you never miss a checkup, it’s important not to rely on a dentist to prevent bad dental health. Although it is difficult, limit your child’s intake of sweets and sugary drinks to prevent erosion and fillings. As far as cleaning goes, it is recommended that you keep an eye on your child’s brushing habits at least until they are 7 years old. Your child relies on you to advise them on how keep their teeth clean. Use a soft toothbrush in gentle circular movements for the best results.
Your child might also demand novelty toothpaste, or fun toothbrushes with their favourite cartoon character printed on the handle, and it’s up to you whether you want to use these incentives to teach a child good dental health. As with all health matters, prevention is key. Teaching good habits now will save you and your child a ton of money in the future, when they grow up and dental care is no longer covered by the NHS but finding a suitable practice is easy with mouth.org. Otherwise, tooth ache and braces are a part of life and are just another growing pain.
