As a parent, it is your responsibility to guide your children in taking care of themselves and staying healthy. A major responsibility to keep in mind is their dental care habits for optimal oral health. The children’s dentist at La Crosse Pediatric Dentistry in Wisconsin has shared a few of their favorite tips below. 

Use these dental care tips to help your kids avoid cavities and tooth decay:

• Visit the Dentist: Your child should go in for an initial appointment with a pediatric dentist before their first birthday and have checkups once every six months after. A dentist will find any irregularities in their oral health and make recommendations as needed. They will clean the plaque buildup that causes cavities during their appointments as well.
• Avoid Sugar: While you may not be able to cut sugar completely out of your children’s diets, controlling their sugar intake–and when it occurs–will help. Children younger than one year should not be given sugary drinks such as juice or soda. Do not dip pacifiers in something sugary and never put little ones to bed with a juice bottle. The latter will leave them with cavity-causing acids in their mouths for hours. 
• Get Sealants: Dental sealants are a plastic coating placed on the chewing surface of the permanent back teeth. Because this surface has grooves, bacteria can thrive in them and lead to decay. Dentists recommend sealants for all children, since they create a smooth surface that protects those particularly vulnerable areas.

The professionals at La Cross Pediatric Dentistry are experienced and caring. They emphasize creating a welcoming, comfortable environment for your child’s dental care. They will teach your children to love taking care of their teeth and can help them prevent cavities and tooth decay. Contact them online or at (608) 782-4054 to schedule an appointment.