Teaching your children how to take care of their oral health, particularly their teeth and gums, from a young age is extremely important. But it can be challenging to get kids to keep their teeth and gums very clean. To make the process easier, check out the tips below.
Get Your Kids to the Dentist
One of the most important steps that you’ll take in ensuring the oral health of your child is teaching him or her that it’s necessary to see the dentist at least once a year. You can search for a local dentist, such as a Bakersfield Family Dentist like Dr. Scott Wallace DDS – Family Dentistry, but just be sure that the dentist has experience in working with children to make the experience as easy on your child as possible. This will ensure your kid’s teeth and gums can be examined regularly and problems can be caught and treated early.
Brush Twice a Day
Kids should be taught to brush their teeth twice a day using a soft bristled, child sized toothbrush and a pea-sized amount of toothpaste that contains fluoride. The brushing should be done in the morning after waking up, as well as at night before heading off to bed.
Floss Once a Day
In addition to brushing twice a day, kids also need to be taught how to floss at least once a day. This will get rid of plaque and food particles from between the teeth, as well as from under the gum line, before they have the chance to become tartar, which can only be removed with a professional dental cleaning. As an alternative to traditional floss, your child can also be taught how to use a water flosser.
Teach Your Kids to Eat Well
In addition to establishing healthy brushing and flossing habits, it’s also important to teach your kids that what they eat can have an impact upon the health of their teeth and gums. Feed your son or daughter a well-balanced diet that’s loaded with whole foods that aren’t processed. Limit the amount of sugary and starchy foods that your child eats as well, as these will produce harmful plaque acids.
Focus on Proper Brushing Technique
For the best results, it’s important to teach your child the brushing technique that will effectively clean every tooth. Brushing should be done in a circular motion to hit every spot on every tooth, as well as along the gum line. This will effectively remove all of the plaque that would otherwise remain on the teeth and result in tooth decay and gum disease. Your child can start by brushing the outside of the teeth before moving on to the tops of the teeth and then the insides of the teeth. It’s also a good idea to brush the tongue to kill bacteria and freshen the breath.
Once your children have established habits for maintaining oral health, you can rest assured that they’ll know how to keep their mouths healthy as they get older.
