Your Child's Dental Care and Their ADHD

Posted on: 20 November 2019

If your child has ADHD then you likely struggle with getting them to do certain tasks, one of which may very well be to take good care of their teeth. Here are tips to keep in mind when it comes to your child's dental health and ADHD, along with other information that can help steer you in the right direction in their dental care.

What can happen due to improper dental care and ADHD?

Children with ADHD can end up with cavities early on due to their tendency to not brush as often and not brushing properly. Your child needs to be brushing twice a day and they need to brush all tooth surfaces. However, when you have to argue with them throughout the day it can be hard to make sure these things get done. Some things you can try to encourage proper brushing include:

  • Get your child interested in dental care with bright and entertaining educational material on dental health
  • Allow your child to choose their own dental products
  • Set up a reward system to track your child's dental habits and reward them for their accomplishments.

How can you prevent tooth damage due to tooth injuries?

A child with ADHD will have plenty of energy and this often leads to them playing in a hardy manner that puts their teeth at risk of fractures, chips, and breaks. Along with doing what you can to curb risky antics, you also want their teeth to be strong. This means keeping them healthy through dental care and by seeing the dentist regularly.

Also, talk to the dentist about special dental care products they should be using, such as ones with added fluoride. Also, ask the dentist about the foods your child should be eating more of that help promote strong teeth, such as those high in calcium. You also want to be sure your child wears a dentist-approved mouthguard when one is advisable.

How can you deal with dental appointments?

Don't let your child eat any sweet foods on the day of their appointment to maintain better control over their energy levels. Bring things to the dentist's office to keep them occupied while waiting to be called back to a room. Have someone else watch your other children so you can focus on helping your child get through their appointment easier.

To learn more about helping your child's oral health, contact a children's dentist. 

Share

Dentistry for Kids

Anyone who provides a service specifically for the youngest among us knows that treating kids must be approached very differently from treating adults. Children are not like adult patients. They require a dental team that makes children feel safe and secure at every appointment. The pediatric dental staff also needs to understand how to work with parents as well as young patients. As a pediatric dental hygienist and a mom, I understand that specific needs of children when they are visiting the dentist. This blog will explain exactly what kids need from a dental staff and will give options for making the dental office a welcoming environment to children. We can give a whole new generation healthy smiles by making pediatric dentistry the best it can be.