Six Important Dental Care Tips for Your Kids

Marco Giambrone happily awaiting to get his braces

DENTAL CARE TIPS FOR KIDS Good dental hygiene is a crucial part of a healthy lifestyle

BY DR. ANU ISAAC, DMD Dr. Anu Isaac, DMD, runs a successful dental practice in Salem, MA. As the founder of Coral Dental Care, she is dedicated to creating healthy, beautiful smiles for her patients and also to educating dental and non-dental community with her engaging articles on all things related to oral health, recent dental innovations, and latest treatment modalities.

It is very important to impart good oral care practices when your child is young. Let’s look at some must-know dental care tips to teach your kids.

AVOID DENTAL CAVITIES

Cavities are a result of bacteria building up in the mouth. The sugar in food and drinks turn into acid and dissolve the tooth, resulting in a cavity. Look for signs indicating cavities such as the presence of brown spots on your child’s teeth.

Make sure their teeth are clean. You can opt for teeth whitening procedures too.

LIMIT SUGAR INTAKE

Kids love sugary food and drinks, but you must limit their sugar intake. Help them make healthy food choices. There is no need to eliminate sugary items from their diet altogether, but you should minimize the amount they consume.

Avoid giving your kids soda and sweetened drinks. Try to keep sweet snacks between meals to the minimum. When your little one does have a sugary snack or drink, make sure they brush their teeth afterwards without fail.

Limiting sugar intake will help in preventing tooth decay and cavities.

ENSURE KIDS GET ENOUGH FLUORIDE

Fluoride is important to kids’ oral health. It helps in reducing cavities in both primary and permanent teeth. Fluoride helps to make teeth strong by hardening the tooth enamel. You can find fluoride in drinking water. Make sure your water filters do not remove this fluoride.

If your water does not contain fluoride, give your child an oral fluoride supplement. Before giving them the supplement, however, check with the dentist to determine

whether or not it’s really needed. Too much fluoride can be harmful to your kid’s health. Therefore, make sure you are careful with the dosage of the supplement.

MAKE BRUSHING AND FLOSSING A REGULAR HABIT

Make it very clear to the kids that they will not be let off the hook when it comes to brushing and flossing. Be consistent with this message, and convey that they do not have a choice in this matter.

Be patient and help the kids get into the habit of brushing and flossing on their own. They might need your help until the age of 6. Make sure they learn the right brushing technique. Let your little ones choose their toothbrush, toothpaste, and floss. This will excite and entice them to brush and floss without being asked.

Reward them for brushing and flossing regularly. Make it a group activity and let them brush with you. They will be more likely to brush when everyone else is doing it.

INSIST ON A MOUTHGUARD WHILE PLAYING SPORTS

A major part of dental care is using a mouthguard while playing sports. It covers the teeth and gums, protecting the teeth from sports injuries. You can either buy a generic mouthguard from a store or talk to your dentist for a custom-fit mouthguard.

SCHEDULE REGULAR DENTAL VISITS

When you start taking your kid to the dentist regularly, it will become a normal event for them. Consistent dental visits and good oral hygiene will become a habit. Your child’s first dental visit should be after the first tooth appears.

It may be tempting to reward your child when going to the dentist, but try not to do that. It projects the message that a dentist visit has to be endured. Rather, make it a part of a fun excursion where you go to the dentist, followed by the park, the movies, or any other fun activity.

Teaching kids good oral hygiene from a young age will help them develop necessary oral practices. When dental care becomes a habit, they will have healthy teeth.