When your child has baby teeth, tooth-harming habits aren’t as scary as they are for adults. However, when they grow into their permanent teeth, that’s a whole other story. It’s important to keep their chompers in tip-top shape so they will last a lifetime. To help you help your child, our dentist, Dr. Nathan Owens, would like to talk about the many things that can harm your child’s teeth and gums and how to avoid them.
The first is chewing on things other than food, like ice, pens, and pencils. Although this is a common habit to participate in when your child is bored, it can easily harm the teeth. In fact, it can break and chip the enamel. So, instead of chewing on foreign objects, try to encourage your child to chew on sugar-free gum instead.
The second is constantly snacking. This is tough on the smile because it frequently exposes the teeth to harmful substances, like sugar, bacteria, and acid. If your child’s teeth don’t have a break from these things, they could give in to tooth decay and other dental issues. So, it’s best to encourage your child to limit snacking as much as possible.
The third is refusing to wear a mouthguard. If your child participates in high-contact activities, like basketball, karate, wrestling, rugby, soccer, etc., their smile could be in grave danger if they don’t wear a mouthguard. In fact, hard objects could hit the mouth and break teeth and hurt the oral tissues. So, please talk your child into wearing a mouthguard while they are active.
To learn more about how to protect your child’s smile in Pulaski, Tennessee, please reach out to our dental team at Owens Family & Cosmetic Dentistry by dialing (931) 277-4666. When you call our office, we will be more than happy to help you so you can help your child!