Parents, we know there’s no better feeling than seeing your little one break into a beaming smile and show their tiny pearly whites.

However, while taking care of our own dental health is like second nature, and just part of our daily routine, the same can’t be said for our toddlers. At this age, children tend to view teeth brushing as a chore, something mundane, that gets in the way of them running around and having fun.

Nevertheless, keeping our children’s dental health intact is incredibly important. Let’s find out why.

Why is it important to keep my toddler’s dental health intact?

Although your little one may protest when it comes to keeping their teeth nice and clean, tooth decay is the number-one dental problem among children of this age. Although your child is going to lose their baby teeth regardless, tooth loss, even at this age, can affect their permanent teeth when they come through and lead to future dental problems.

Therefore, it’s vitally important that you do your part to keep their dental health intact and to teach them early on about how to keep their own teeth nice and clean.

So, now we know why it’s essential that you take proper care of your child’s dental health. But how do we ensure this happens? Let’s take a look at the following points for some practical advice.

How do I ensure my toddler maintains good dental health?

Teach good dental habits.

One of the best ways to protect your child’s teeth properly is to instil good dental habits early on. Remember, if your child creates habits that foster good oral hygiene at an early stage, then they’re more likely to keep these good habits as they venture into adulthood. Your child won’t likely have any control or concentration to properly brush their teeth independently yet, so it’s important that you show them exactly the right way to do it.

Help your child brush their teeth twice a day.

Practice brushing your child’s teeth twice a day, with a child-sized toothbrush. If it helps them become more interested in brushing, perhaps go shopping for a toothbrush that they like. Once you’ve found a toothbrush, start by using a tiny amount of toothpaste. If your child doesn’t like the taste, try another flavour. Remember, teach them not to swallow it as they still may be too young to automatically rinse and spit.

Find the right brushing method.

Parents are somewhat in debate when it comes to brushing methods. However, it’s generally agreed that the right brushing method is: up and down, back and forth, or around in circles. What’s crucial is that you clean each tooth thoroughly, so no plaque is missed. If you feel some resistance from your child regarding this, don’t despair. Perhaps try to turn it into a fun little game. Something like “find the hidden teeth”, for example. This way, your child won’t feel like it’s such a chore.

Remember that diet plays a role.

Diet will always play an important role in your child’s dental health. Therefore, watch out if they have a sweet tooth! The longer and more frequently your child’s teeth are exposed to sugar, the greater risk of cavities there is. Foods like caramel, toffee, dried fruit, gum, etc, can stay in your child’s mouth and create a lot of plaque and potential tooth damage. To ensure this doesn’t happen, simply make sure to brush their teeth after eating sugary foods.

Take your child to a paediatric dentist.

It’s well known that many people are afraid of dentists, not just little children! So, to avoid your child not wanting to take a trip to the dentist, first of all, find a paediatric dentist that they seem to like. During your child’s oral exam the dentist will do checks to ensure that their teeth are developing properly and that there are no oral issues.

How do I take care of my 2 - 3-year-old's teeth?

Unii shares how to best protect your toddler's dental health.