As you raise your child, don’t forget to teach them how to properly care for their smile each day! Oral hygiene is very important when it comes to achieving and maintaining a strong and successful oral health. However, we understand that it may be difficult to teach, encourage, and motivate children at certain ages, which is why we have provided the following tips to help you:
Babies
Many people believe that the primary teeth are unimportant and unnecessary, but this is simply not true. The baby teeth are extremely important because they guide the permanent teeth into place and they give your child the ability to chew, eat, and talk. So, it is very important that you care for your child’s baby teeth as soon as they grow into the mouth. You can do so by brushing their teeth with a small, kid-sized, soft-bristled toothbrush and children’s fluoride toothpaste. You can also begin flossing your child’s smile when two teeth grow in next to each other.
Young Children
Young children often think they can brush their teeth themselves but most do not have the manual dexterity required to thoroughly clean the mouth. So, it’s important that you help them brush and floss. You can let them clean their smiles themselves at first, but then you can follow up by finishing the job.
Middle-Schoolers
Now that your child is attending middle school, you don’t have much control over what they eat. However, you can gain a little more control by packing your child a lunch each day. In this lunch, make sure you pack fruits, vegetables, and whole grain foods. These products will help keep your child’s smile healthy and strong. Also, remember to encourage your child to brush their teeth twice a day and floss at least once a day.
Teens
Whether your teen has braces or not, it’s very important that they properly care for their smile. If you have trouble encouraging your teen to do so, just remind them that if they don’t care for their teeth and gums, they will begin to have yellow, decayed teeth with constant smelly breath. This should help them want to care for their smile more and more each day. Remember to have them brush, floss, and rinse daily.
Now remember, during these times it is also extremely important to bring your child into our office every six months for a dental cleaning and checkup. These appointments are vital if you wish to help your child fight tooth decay and gum disease. So, if you need to schedule your child’s next appointment, call our office today!