If your child finally has all of their permanent teeth, everyone is probably super excited! The problem, though, is that these are the teeth they’ll be stuck with for the rest of their life. They won’t get another chance to grow in new teeth like they did in the past. All things considered, you should make sure that your child knows how important it is to take care of their teeth. One of the ways to do so is by helping them to quit some of their old habits. Here are some habits that may be damaging their teeth. (Related topics: best pediatric dentist in Bergen County, best kids dentist Bergen County)
Crunching Hard Food
There are so many crunchy foods that can damage your child’s teeth. Although it may be hard to avoid them forever, you can try to limit how much crunchy food your child eats. This includes food like ice, popcorn kernels, hard candy, hard breads, and much more. These foods are bad because they put stress on your child’s teeth; all your child has to do is bite it in the wrong spot and it could fracture their teeth.
Using Teeth as Tools
This is something that almost everyone has done at one point or another. As a parent, try not to do this around your child, as they’ll pick up on this habit. When they use their teeth as tools, not only does it invite bacteria into their mouth, but it also weakens their teeth and can cause them to fracture.
Grinding Teeth
Your child may be grinding their teeth unintentionally; many kids do so when they sleep. This is harmful to their teeth, as it can wear them down. If they do, your best children’s dentist in Bergen County may recommend a mouth guard at night.
Not Following Their Oral Hygiene Routine
Your kid may think, “it’s no big deal if I don’t brush my teeth tonight”, but it’s important that you remind them that it is! They should be flossing and brushing their teeth at least twice a day. If they don’t, they could get tooth decay due to plaque build-up. They should also see their best children’s dentist in Bergen County every 6 months for a check-up and deep clean.
