When a baby is between six months and three years old, the twenty baby teeth emerge and the child’s parents are given the opportunity to teach important dental health lesson plans through practice and example. These first 20 teeth will be replaced by 32 permanent teeth – the first 28 come in between 6 and 13 years, and the last four (the so-called wisdom teeth) usually appear between 16 and 21 years.
When your child is young and being fed from a bottle, it’s important to resist the temptation to put them to sleep while still sucking a bottle filled with milk or juice. The liquids will stay on their teeth throughout the night and could cause quite a bit of damage. Try a pacifier or a bottle filled with water instead.
Visiting the dentist
Your child should make his first visit to the dentist sometime between when their first tooth comes in and the one-year-old mark. However, not much will be done at the dentist office until the child is around three years old.
Learning to brush and floss
Around age three, your child should be learning to brush, using a simple technique, such as the traditional, dentist-approved motion of small, gentle circles. Because a child this young does not have the experience to judge when his teeth are cleaned, you should inspect your child’s teeth or assist in the brushing. Teeth brushing should be supervised until about age eight.
Flossing is another aspect of dental health that should be emphasized. Floss your child’s teeth until he can do a good job him or herself, around age 10.
Plaque
Kid’s cartoons often portray plaque as the bad guy and toothpaste as the good guy who wards off the nasty attacker. No matter how you choose to tell your child about how harmful plaque is, dental lesson plans should definitely not skip this one. Plaque is one of the leading causes of tooth decay and gum disease. If teeth are not brushed properly, plaque buildup can cause cavities, bleeding gums, destruction of tooth-supporting bone, and even tooth loss. Gum disease is one of the leading causes of tooth loss in adults.
How to control plaque
Brush teeth twice a day — in the morning and in the evening. Use a soft-bristled brush and make sure the brush fits comfortably in the mouth. Most toothbrush companies also manufacture toothbrushes that are smaller and designed to appeal to children. Toothbrushes should be replaced every three months, or when they start to show wear and tear, whichever is sooner.
Teaching dental health lesson plans
Since children seem to learn better with illustrations or when there’s a game involved, it may be best to teach your child dental health using materials that include a coloring picture, an art project, or by letting your child pick out his or her own toothbrush, so that he or she will be excited to use it. And don’t become frustrated when the novelty of using a toothbrush wears off.
Dental plans
For those of you out there searching for a cheaper dental plan, there are websites that compare dental health plans and offer specials, depending on where you live.
- Tricity.com has specials on dental plans.
- Dentalplans.com features a wide variety of dental plans and allows you to compare dental plans in your area.
- Dentalinsurance.com allows you to compare dental insurance from companies around the country.
By Virginia Zignego