As a parent, you want the best for your child. You take them for health and dental checkups regularly, and you make sure they eat a well-balanced diet. But, did you know that there are things you let your child do that can ruin their teeth? These are things that a lot of people don't really pay attention to - or think has any effect on the child's teeth. Here are three things that can ruin your child's teeth.

1. Thumb-sucking after teeth come in.

While it is perfectly fine for a baby and young toddler to suck on their thumb, some parents don't try to discourage it once the child gets to preschool age. They think it's cute and, while they might be right, not discouraging it before the teeth come in can mean big problems ahead.

If your child continues to suck their thumb once their teeth start coming in, it can cause them to come in crooked and to stick out, since they won't be able to get past your child's thumb. So, if you want your child's teeth to come in normally, you should start discouraging thumb-sucking by the age of 4.

2. Giving your child a bottle of milk at bedtime.

Some have the idea that baby teeth don't matter, so it's not a problem to let a child suck on a bottle at night while they go to sleep. However, doing so can lead to tooth decay - and tooth decay, at any age, is no laughing matter.

Whether it is breast milk, formula, or regular cow's milk, it contains sugar. When sugar is left to sit on your teeth for a period of time, it leads to cavities. Unfortunately, cavities for young children progress very quickly and can already have caused extensive tooth decay by the time you realize something is wrong with your child's teeth.

3. Biting their nails.

Biting fingernails is a habit that a lot of kids pick up and, unfortunately, continue on into adulthood. The bad news is the habit can cause a lot of problems for your child's teeth. For starters, it can cause the teeth to get chipped or cracked because of the constant friction between them and the fingernail.

It can also lead to your child developing gingivitis because of the bacteria from the fingernails - especially if they leave the nail in between their teeth. Needless to say, nail biting is another habit you will want to discourage your child from doing.

For more information, contact Apollo Dental Center or a similar location.