One of the most important skills a child can learn is how to properly clean and care for his or her teeth.

Dental problems cause pain, irritability and overall poor health, good dental care is important for a child’s total health and wellbeing.

To increase the odds that a child will grow up to have good teeth, parents need to make certain to teach children to avoid the most common dental hazards that are most likely to cause problems, these are:

Not Brushing 

Perhaps the greatest dental hazard that children face is not properly brushing their teeth.

Failure to care for teeth from a young age can cause irreparable damage to the teeth.

Even baby teeth need proper dental care as damage to baby teeth can spread to permanent teeth or cause permanent teeth to grow in crooked.

By learning to care for his or her teeth at a young age, a child is more likely to grow into an adult with good dental habits and strong, healthy teeth.

Thumb sucking

Thumb sucking is a normal behavior for a baby or other young children. In fact, many babies will suck their thumb before birth.

While thumb sucking is completely normal, it can cause damage to teeth if it continues beyond the age of four.

If a child is sucking his or her thumb after the age of four, the child should see a dentist for an evaluation.

Chewing ice

Chewing ice is a terrible habit due to the likelihood of it damaging teeth.

Not only is ice hard, but it is also cold. The cold temperature of ice can make tooth enamel brittle, causing it to break more easily.

Similarly, chewing on other hard objects, such as metal pens, can also cause damage to a child’s teeth which, may require a visit to the dentist to repair.

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Drinking soft drink

Frequently drinking soft drinks, or other highly sweetened beverages, is one of the worst habits that a child can start.

The combination of sweetness and acidity can cause serious damage to teeth over time.

While drinking soft drinks on occasion is okay, a child needs to learn that it is important to drink water after it to wash it out of the mouth and to properly brush his or her teeth as soon as possible.

Poor diet

Children who eat a poor diet that is high in sugars and carbohydrates may develop poor dental health later in life.

Bacteria in the mouth convert carbs into acids which, can damage teeth.

As with other habits, a child who learns to eat healthy as a youngster is likely to continue eating healthy as an adult.

While most young children get enough calcium by drinking milk, parents need to be certain to encourage older children to consume milk and cheese to get enough calcium to keep teeth strong.

Not using a mouthpiece 

Many children will become interested in sports and other strenuous physical activities as they grow.

These activities can be beneficial for overall health, but many physical activities can result in injuries that damage the teeth.

Fortunately, inexpensive athletic mouthpieces can protect against many of these injuries.

Whether a child enjoys football, soccer, bike riding, skateboarding or other activities, it is essential that the child wear a mouthpiece.

How do you teach your kids good dental hygiene? Love to hear your comments below.

 Image courtesy of Shutterstock.com

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