Keep regular track of the growth of your child’s primary and permanent teeth. Take the child to the dentist regularly to detect dental problems early and resolve them promptly.

Supervise daily tooth brushing. Parents should assist with brushing before bedtime. Shark teeth (overlapping primary and permanent teeth) are hard to clean and highly prone to dental caries. Six-year molars are also difficult to reach. Use children-specific toothpaste and toothbrushes with small brush heads. Besides brushing, ask the child to rinse the mouth after every meal to maintain oral hygiene.

During tooth replacement, offer more high-fiber and slightly firm foods such as fruits, carrots, beans and corn. These foods stimulate primary teeth sufficiently to help them shed on schedule. Chewing also activates facial and eye muscles, boosts blood circulation, and promotes the development of gum ridges, jawbones and facial bones.

Boost calcium intake by serving calcium-rich foods including milk, cheese, tofu and canned fish. Ensure adequate intake of vitamin C and vitamin D, as both vitamins facilitate calcium absorption.

Discourage mouth breathing during sleep. Airflow through the mouth exerts upward pressure on the palate and stops it from developing normally downwards. This causes a high arched palate, narrow upper dental arch and protruding front teeth, resulting in tilted, misaligned front teeth and gaps between teeth.

Correct bad oral habits in a timely manner, such as tongue thrusting, biting the tongue, sucking fingers or pencils, and rubbing teeth with the tongue. These habits disrupt tooth growth and lead to dental malformations.

Special protection is required for the first permanent molars (six-year molars) that erupt around age six. They determine the position and vertical height of all teeth in the mouth, greatly influence jaw and facial development, and play a key role in the orderly eruption and alignment of other permanent teeth.

Deliver regular safety education to the child to prevent tooth loss caused by trauma.