Our advice
• Minimizing the impact of certain bad habits on your dental health
Breastfeeding vs. bottle feeding
At the youngest age, breastfeeding should be favoured as it helps to stimulate the growth of the jaws and palate while encouraging the newborn to develop nasal breathing.
As for bottle feeding, it blocks the tongue in a low position leading to a lack of stimulation of the growth cartilage on the palate and the persistence of infantile swallowing.
Maintain and improve your dental health
Brush your teeth 2 x a day
As soon as the first deciduous teeth appear, teach your child to brush his or her teeth to limit the risk of cavities. Until the age of 9, a child's tooth brushing must be accompanied by a parent because his or her psychomotricity is not yet optimal. Brushing should optimally lasts 2 to 3 minutes and should be done in the morning and in the evening with an age-appropriate toothpaste. The head of the toothbrush should be age-appropriate and the brushing movement should tilt towards the gums with circular back and forth movements.
To facilitate the evolution of orthodontic treatment
Follow the instructions on the wearing time of removable appliances or intermaxillary elastics.
Depending on the clinical situation and the type of appliance, a minimum wearing time must be applied in order to correct malocclusion of teeth. Similarly, the elastics that are required to be placed during treatment with braces must be worn 24 hours a day.