{"id":718,"date":"2018-07-16T11:29:30","date_gmt":"2018-07-16T15:29:30","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.skororthodontics.com\/blog\/?p=718"},"modified":"2018-07-16T11:29:51","modified_gmt":"2018-07-16T15:29:51","slug":"bad-dental-habits","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.skororthodontics.com\/blog\/bad-dental-habits\/","title":{"rendered":"Bad Dental Habits for Children that Impact Their Oral Health"},"content":{"rendered":"

Dental health habits are best formed early on. Proper dental care is critical to ensure safe and healthy growth of teeth and supporting bone in and around the mouth. However, many children have bad dental habits that either they or their parents should avoid. Learn about these damaging habits and the effects they can have on your child\u2019s overall health!<\/p>\n

Baby Bottle \/ Breast-feeding at Night<\/h2>\n

Newborns are hungry when they\u2019re hungry. It\u2019s okay to feed them when they clearly need it! But once their teeth start to erupt, it\u2019s worth the effort to try and avoid late-night feedings.<\/p>\n

Breast milk contains lactose, which is a sugar. Like any sugar, prolonged exposure on your baby\u2019s teeth or gums can help promote bacteria growth. The last thing you want is your child\u2019s new baby teeth being immediately exposed to tooth decay!<\/p>\n

The same goes for bottled drinks. If they contain sugar, they can have the same effect. This is called \u201cbottle mouth.\u201d If you do need to give your child a bottle at night for some reason, avoid sugary drinks whenever possible!<\/p>\n

Thumb Sucking with Permanent Teeth<\/h2>\n

It\u2019s natural for children and toddlers to suck their thumbs for comfort. During their early years, usually before age four to six, it\u2019s not a major concern. But when their permanent teeth begin to grow in, you need to discourage it!<\/p>\n

Chronic thumb sucking can misalign the teeth. It can also negatively affect the development of the roof of their mouth. Not only will these effect their bite, it can lead to a surprising number of dental issues which will likely need orthodontic intervention to correct.<\/p>\n

Chewing on Hard Objects<\/h2>\n

Whether it\u2019s a child exploring the world, or a pre-teen that\u2019s simply bored, it\u2019s common for children to chew on objects. Things like ice cubes are popular choices \u2013 especially because they seem innocent enough to bite. But it\u2019s extremely harmful to their teeth!<\/p>\n

Our teeth weren\u2019t designed to handle extreme stress from chewing on solid objects. While ice cubes or non-food items are easy to identify as bad, this goes for hard candies like jawbreakers too! Just one bad bite can chip or crack a tooth. In those with their permanent teeth, that could mean crowns or root canals depending on the damage.<\/p>\n

Nail Biting<\/h2>\n

Like thumb sucking, nail biting is often a nervous tick, or something done out of boredom. But, like biting any other hard objects, it can be terrible for teeth and a bad dental habit in the making.<\/p>\n

First, the act of chewing on finger nails can lead to chips or cracks in teeth like any other object. Secondly, it\u2019s bad for your child\u2019s fingernails! Most importantly, it is associated with an increased risk in bruxism<\/a> \u2013 more commonly known as unintentional grinding. Bruxism as a chronic issue can require intervention from your dentist or orthodontist to prevent long-term damage to their oral health.<\/p>\n

Excessive Sugary Drinks<\/h2>\n

One of the worst dental habits to develop in a child is an addiction to sugary drinks or soft drinks. While these types of beverages are bad for everyone\u2019s teeth, they\u2019re especially damaging to young children\u2019s new teeth \u2013 even when using a straw to drink.<\/a><\/p>\n

Many juices or drinks contain a staggering amount of sugar. Even those labeled as sugar-free are often carbonated, which is acidic and damaging to teeth as well. It\u2019s unfortunately common for children as young as two or younger to frequently drink sugary drinks.<\/p>\n

Skipping Dentist and Orthodontist Visits<\/h2>\n

Nobody should miss a dental appointment. Like any health problem, it\u2019s easier to catch and correct tooth decay or other risks early. If you let your child miss their appointments, they could start to develop advanced gum disease or tooth decay issues that otherwise would have been easily prevented.<\/p>\n

More importantly, if your child has new braces<\/a>, it\u2019s critical to make every orthodontic appointment. An orthodontist uses these visits to examine the progress of their treatment and adjust their braces as necessary. If you miss a visit, it could delay your child\u2019s treatment.<\/p>\n

An orthodontic visit is also a great time for you or your child to ask questions or discuss concerns, such as minor pains from their braces<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\"Information<\/a><\/p>\n

Do You Have Questions About Braces? \u2013 Schedule a Free Consultation<\/h2>\n

If you\u2019re in need of braces, or have recently started orthodontic treatment, Dr. Andy can help answer your questions! You can find out how we can help by scheduling a free consultation!\u00a0Contact us online<\/a>\u00a0or call\u00a0440-842-8015<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Stay connected with Doctor Andy on Social Media!<\/strong><\/p>\n

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Dental health habits are best formed early on. Proper dental care is critical to ensure safe and healthy growth of teeth and supporting bone in and around the mouth. However, many children have bad dental habits that either they or their parents should avoid. Learn about these damaging habits and the effects they can have…