Your child’s dental health can impact their self-confidence and ability to talk and chew as they grow up. Even seemingly simple bad habits can spell trouble for your little one’s smile and lead to more visits to the pediatric dentist. As a parent, it’s wise to take early action. Here are three bad dental habits kids should break. 

What Negative Tendencies Are Bad for Children’s Teeth?

1. Always Having a Sippy Cup

Baby bottle tooth decay can be severely detrimental to an infant’s smile since the sugars and acids in milk can cause cavities. However, this problem can also impact older children, especially kids who like to use sippy cups. Encourage them to only drink when they’re thirsty and to consume water instead of juice or milk. Never put your child to bed with a bottle or a sippy cup of juice or milk. 

2. Thumb-Sucking

Thumb sucking can push the front incisors on the top and bottom jaw forward, creating an open bite. While most children stop sucking their thumbs on their own between the ages of 6 or 7 months, the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends intervening to help children who continue sucking their thumb after the age of 5.

If your little one is a thumb-sucker, talk with your pediatric dentist about how to discourage the habit. In some instances, painting your child’s thumbnail with special nail polish with a bad-tasting additive can help. In other cases, your child’s dentist may recommend wearing an anti-thumb-sucking dental appliance. 

3. Nail-Biting

Nail-biting is a common habit, especially in children. Unfortunately, it can put extra pressure on the teeth, resulting in chips, dental fractures, and even gum lacerations. Nail-biting has also been tied to bruxism in kids. To discourage nail-biting, keep your children’s nails short and well-trimmed. 

If you’re concerned about your child’s teeth, don’t hesitate to reach out to William U. Britton, DDS, MAGD, in Chillicothe, OH. Since their inception more than 35 years ago, this pediatric dentist is committed to offering kind, gentle, and effective dental care to children of all ages. From preventive checkups to dental sealants, your child will get the treatment they need to enjoy the healthiest teeth possible. Learn more about how this pediatric dentist can help by visiting his website and call (740) 772-2225 to schedule an appointment.