Does Your Child Have a Bad Dental Habit?

We all have habits; some are good and others are bad. For children, it is important to recognize and distinguish the bad habits before they become deeply established for life. When it comes to dental habits, Elegant Smiles is here to help. Our pediatric dentists are diligent about helping kids establish good, healthy dental habits – while also identifying and eliminating the bad dental habits.

There are several habits that children may develop that can be harmful to their dental health. Depending on the child’s age, many of these habits can be better controlled by the parents. For example, a young child can’t be expected to drive themselves to the dentist for regular checkups and cleanings and a toddler will always have a hard time refusing sugary juices and sticky candy if it is freely given.

Avoid These Poor Habits for Your Child’s Smile

At Elegant Smiles, we can help parents and kids recognize and reverse poor dental habits before they compromise the future health of your child’s smile. Here are some of the worst dental habits for kids:

Thumb Sucking or Pacifier Use

Prolonged thumb sucking or pacifier use can lead to crooked teeth or an overbite, as the pressure from the sucking motion can cause the teeth and jaws to shift.

Mouth Breathing

This is a hard one to control. However, breathing through the mouth instead of the nose can cause dry mouth, which can lead to an increase in tooth decay and gum disease.

Chewing on Hard Objects

Chewing on hard objects such as pens, pencils, or toys can cause tooth fractures and damage to dental restorations.

Drinking Sugary or Acidic Beverages

Consuming sugary or acidic beverages such as juice or soda can lead to tooth decay and erosion of the tooth enamel.

Infrequent Brushing and Flossing

Poor oral hygiene habits such as infrequent brushing and flossing can lead to the buildup of plaque and tartar, which can cause gum disease and tooth decay.

Neglecting Dental Visits

Skipping or avoiding regular dental visits can lead to undetected dental problems such as cavities, gum disease, or misaligned teeth, which can lead to more serious dental issues down the road.

Elegant Smiles Partners with Parents

It takes a village. At Elegant Smiles, our pediatric dentists recognize the value in partnering with parents to help them teach children good dental habits from a young age. To learn more about poor dental habits in kids or to schedule your child’s routine dental checkup, please call our Atlanta office.