14 Dec Keeping Your Child’s Teeth Healthy
Many parents have experienced the struggle of keeping their children’s teeth clean, healthy and cavity-free. From brushing to making a trip to the dentist, most kids can’t seem to find the fun in dental care activities. So, how do you encourage kids to keep up with good dental hygiene? Well, it usually starts with forming proper teeth brushing habits at a young age and keeping a positive attitude toward dental hygiene!
At True Dental, we have plenty of tips on ways to make sure their teeth stay healthy, but here are a few of our favourites:
Create a Brushing Routine
Start by brushing your child’s teeth when they are babies; this can be rubbing a washcloth over gums to clean bacteria, to using an infant toothbrush and a small amount of fluoride toothpaste. As your child gets older, encourage brushing at least twice a day at set times; also have your child (or help them) brush for two minutes and spit out excess toothpaste when they need to. Try to discourage rinsing with excessive water as this will wash away the fluoride, making the toothpaste less effective. By practicing these actives at a young age, your child will get used to it and be less likely to fight away a toothbrush when they’re older. And remember, always let them know what a good job they are doing and how proud you are so that they’ll want to continue taking great care of their teeth.
Inquire About Protective Treatments
Treatments like Fissure Sealants can be performed once your child’s permanent back teeth have started to come through. Sealants will help prevent tooth decay, and protect against bacteria and food particles the get stuck in the deep grooves or ‘fissures’ of the teeth (where a toothbrush might not reach). Sealants can last anywhere between 5-10+ years, and are commonly recommended for children who are six and up. Sealants are also recommended for younger children that may be cavity prone or have ‘groovy teeth’.
Treatments like fluoride varnish can be applied as young as two, and ideally should be applied at least twice a year to aid in protection against tooth decay. Fluoride is a mineral that strengthens the enamel and aids in the remineralization process; it is a safe and recommended option to reduce the likeliness of primary decay in your children’s teeth. Treatment involves painting a varnish, that contains concentrated fluoride levels, onto the tooth’s surface in order to prevent tooth decay. Now a days, the new method for application of fluoride varnish allows you to eat and drink right after application, so, there is no wait time.
Make the Dentist a Fun Experience
We’ve talked about how to overcome dental anxiety already, but sometimes it isn’t the fear that is keeping your child away from a regular check-up… it’s the fun factor. At True Dental, we love providing a happy and enjoyable experience for Children. We recommend bringing your child in as early as when their first milk teeth appear. By allowing your child to become familiar with the environment and their dentist at a young age, it will promote a positive relationship with the task of going to the dentist. Also, don’t skip out on bringing them in for regular check-ups, as dentists are there to assess teeth health and help you prevent any problems from occurring in the future.
Limit Certain Foods
Sugary juices, candies, and gummy treats can encourage cavities to form if your child is consuming these items excessively. If your child is not rinsing or brushing after eating their favourite sweet goody, sugar can sit in their mouth causing bacteria to form; this bacteria will form an acid that in return causes tooth decay. The frequency of how often your child consumes these food products also factors into how quickly cavities will form. If you child is eating hard candies 10x a day, a cavity is more likely to form than if they ate a big piece of cake once a week.
Keeping your kid’s teeth healthy can be a challenge, but working together with your child as a team will make it much easier. Proper dental health is so important at a young age, and we love creating a fun environment at True Dental so that your child will enjoy their overall experience. Our philosophy is to treat every patient like a member of our family, and we want your to know that you child is in good hands.