Don’t Let These Things Near Your Child’s Smile!

When it comes to maintaining a clean and healthy smile, brushing and flossing are pretty important practices; however, they aren’t the only things you should be worrying about—especially if you’re also helping your child with their own oral health! Certain objects, foods and non-foods alike, pose a threat to smiles of all ages. Here are a few items your pediatric dentist thinks should stay away from your child’s mouth.

Non-Food Items Your Child Should Never Put in Their Mouth

Your children’s teeth are quite valuable; they assist your little one with eating, speaking, and smiling brightly—but unfortunately, there are many things out there that pose a dangerous threat to their well-being. Certain objects should never be put inside the mouth due to the possibility of them damaging teeth in a variety of ways. Be sure your child isn’t biting into any of the following:

• Bottle caps – Bottles should never be opened with the teeth, as convenient as it might seem—this can easily damage the enamel and even hurt the jaw.
• Plastic toys – Items like blocks and Legos might find their way inside your infant’s mouth, where they can cause damage to teeth.
• Pens, pencils, erasers, or other office supplies – While it might seem innocent enough to chew on a pencil eraser or pen cap, these items are often riddled with bacteria that can spread throughout your body once they enter your mouth. Some items are also a choking hazard!
• Jewelry – Jewelry can be particularly hard and durable, so be sure that none is coming into contact with your child’s pearly whites.
• Fingernails – Be sure that your child isn’t biting their fingernails, as this unsanitary habit can transmit germs to the mouth as well as damage the teeth.

Foods Your Child Should Show Caution Around

Sadly, not all foods are created equal—and as delicious as some options might be, they aren’t good for one’s oral health by any means and should be enjoyed either in careful moderation or not at all. Here are some foods that your child shouldn’t be frequently consuming:

• Lemons – Although they’re technically a fruit, the high acidity in lemons can cause enamel erosion as well as pH imbalance inside the mouth.
• Ice cubes – Children and adults alike enjoy chomping on ice cubes or ice chips, but this can cause fractures to your teeth when done excessively.
• Hard candies – Like ice cubes, these can damage your child’s teeth if they bite into them; things like lollipops, jawbreakers, and even gumballs are all potentially hazardous. Not to mention, since children often suck on these for extended periods, more sugar is delivered to their teeth.

The bottom line is that if you or your dentist wouldn’t put a certain object in your mouth, your child absolutely shouldn’t be ingesting it either! That said, knowing what foods and items to show caution around can prove useful and save you and your little one from a scary situation.

About the Author

Dr. Angelica R. Rohner and her skilled team have proudly served families in the Birmingham, AL area for several years. The practice is thrilled to offer a wide range of pediatric dental services aimed at assisting infants, toddlers, teens, and more. If you have any questions about the blog or need to set up a visit for your little one, you can contact the practice online or over the phone for further information. Telephone: (205) 870-0892.