It’s never too early for folks and guardians of young children to explore best practices about dental hygiene and prevention strategies against dental damage.

In response to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, tooth decay is one of the crucial common childhood chronic diseases. Dr. Stephen Mitchell, associate professor and pediatric dentist within the UAB School of Dentistry, said parents play an important role in protecting children’s smiles. Mitchell recommends constructing a robust foundation for good dental hygiene by helping children maintain a balanced weight loss plan, brushing and flossing every day and ensuring regular dental checkups.

Maintain dental hygiene

Mitchell said brushing within the morning and before bed is vital for maintaining oral health.

“After we sleep, our mouths dry, allowing bacteria generally known as plaque to grow. We wish to brush away as much plaque off the teeth before bed as possible,” he said.

Proper brushing should deal with where the teeth and gums come together.

“That is where the bacteria prefer to hide,” Mitchell said. “Often, you will have to drag the lower lip down so you possibly can get the toothbrush all of the solution to the gums of the lower teeth.”

Mitchell recommends that oldsters oversee brushing until the kid develops mature hand-eye coordination, which is vital to effective brushing.

“Most kids should not able to brush independently until 6 to 7 years of age,” Mitchell said. “Before that, let the kid practice brushing; but then go behind them to essentially get the teeth clean.”

One other essential practice is flossing, advisable not less than once a day. “A toothbrush cannot reach between the teeth, so floss is the one solution to remove bacteria between the teeth,” Mitchell said.

Prevent tooth decay

Dental decay is a chronic disease that happens over an extended time, partially due to constant exposure to treats. Managing consumption of sugary foods is vital in stopping tooth decay.

“While brushing and flossing will help prevent tooth decay, the most effective solution to prevent tooth decay is to limit the variety of sugary foods your child eats every day,” Mitchell said. “People often connect candy to tooth decay, but sweet drinks, like juice, sodas and flavored milks, appear to cause more cavities in my patients.”

Regular scheduled dental checkups can keep your child’s teeth healthy and delightful. (Getty Images)

Limiting sugar consumption is crucial step parents can take to scale back the chance of decay.

“Candy sparsely isn’t a nasty thing,” Mitchell said. “Sticky and sour candies that stay within the mouth an extended time are inclined to be the riskiest, while chocolate that melts away quickly tends to do the smallest amount of harm to the teeth. But, if parents want to essentially reduce cavity risk, reduce sweet drinks.”

Sucralose, stevia or aspartame don’t cause cavities, so one other solution to reduce the chance of developing cavities is switching to drinks with some of these sweeteners.

Reply to dental trauma immediately

Dental trauma is physical injury to the teeth, gums, the bone that holds the tooth sockets or the soft tissue of the mouth, including the lips and tongue.

While playing sports, equivalent to softball or baseball, the chance for dental trauma is high. Mitchell and the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry recommends using a mouthguard in all sports.

If a toddler has a dental injury, call a dentist immediately. If a everlasting tooth is knocked out, time is critical.

“If the tooth may be put back in under half-hour, there may be a greater probability of a superb end result,” he said. “Placing the tooth immediately into milk extends the time considerably.”

This story originally appeared on the UAB News website.