East Mountain Dental is a full-service dental practice for the entire family. We love helping people of any age achieve a great smile, primarily through dental hygiene for kids. Tooth decay affects both children and adults. Your children’s teeth can last a lifetime with proper care. We can help you teach your children how to brush, floss, and become dental hygiene experts.
Start Your Kids Early on Regular Dental Checkups
Excellent dental hygiene for kids starts with their regular dental appointments. Professional checkups and cleanings at least twice per year help prevent cavities, fight gum disease, and identify potential dental problems. Please schedule an appointment with us as early as your child’s first tooth comes in.
Help Your Kids Brush and Floss Regularly
Your kids should brush for three minutes at least twice a day. They should brush after meals and snacks if possible, especially before going to bed. Their toothbrush should be a soft-bristle brush approved by the American Dental Association (ADA). They should most likely use fluoride-based toothpaste. Check with Dr. Hamilton or Dr. Roberts on recommendations for both toothbrushes and kinds of toothpaste for your kids.
Teach your kids to floss every time they brush if possible. It disrupts plaque colonies from building up, preventing gum, tooth, and bone damage.
Kids Can Use Mouthwash Too
Your kids may not mind this step too much. Have them rinse their mouth with a fluoride mouthwash, especially after brushing and flossing and before going to bed. Just make sure they spit the mouthwash out after rinsing, or it can cause stomach ache.
Drink Lots of Water
One of the most crucial allies for oral hygiene is water. Water rinses away the debris that might create plaque, bacteria accumulation, and cavities. Make sure your kids drink plenty of water throughout the day. It’s good for their dental hygiene and their overall health. They should drink water or rinse with water after meals.
Water can also help prevent bad breath. It’s high in oxygen and reduces microorganisms that cause bad breath. Because many places in the United States have fluoridated water, tap water may be better for cavity prevention than filtered or bottled water.
Maintain a Good Diet
Perhaps the most common cause of poor dental hygiene for kids is a poor diet. As we all know, kids love sweets. And as we all know, too many sweets cause cavities.
And sweets are not the only food type that causes cavities. These types of acidic drinks, sugary foods and drinks, and foods with fermentable carbs and starches can wear enamel and cause cavities:
- Fruit juices
- Cookies
- Cakes
- Pies
- Candies
- Ice cream
- Dried fruits and raisins
- Soft drinks
- Potato chips
- Bread
- Crackers
- Cereal
Fortunately, you don’t need to cut all of these foods and drinks entirely if your kids practice good dental hygiene. Just try to have them consume these foods and drinks in moderation.
Chew Sugar-Free Gum
Cavities can be avoided by chewing sugarless gum. Yes, it’s true, and your children may be happy about this particular suggestion. It works by increasing saliva production, neutralizing acids in the mouth, and washing away food particles.
Dental Hygiene for Kids is How You Keep Those Cavities Away
Kids may not enjoy some of these important dental hygiene habits, but it may help if you explain to them that these habits fight the bad cavities and keep their teeth happy! Cavity prevention begins with clean, healthy teeth and gums. If you help your children practice these cleaning and dental hygiene routines, they will have optimum oral health.
Make an appointment with East Mountain Dental today. Our highly-skilled dentists and expert staff will provide a fun, educational environment for your kids.
We want to help you keep your kids smiling with healthy, white teeth for years to come!