Waterford, MI Dentist
Lloyd H. Alpert, D.D.S.
4025 Highland Road
Waterford, MI 48328
(248) 682-6010
September 05, 2013
Tags: dental kids  

Dental Tips

 

for Kids!

by Sherra Robinson


 

Passing on good oral health habits to your child is one of the most important lessons you can teach. This means brushing twice a day, showing the proper way to floss, limiting between-meal snacks and seeing your dentist regularly.

Most dentists recommend that children start their dental visits by the age of two. This gives your dentist a chance to monitor your child’s dental growth, and you a chance to learn about tooth development, fluoride, proper oral hygiene, dealing with oral habits (such as pacifier use), diet and nutrition, and how to prevent oral injuries.

Always emphasize that a dental visit is a positive experience. Explain to your child that visiting the dentist helps maintain good oral health. By fostering a positive attitude, you’ll increase the chances that your child will see a dentist regularly throughout life.

Teaching your child proper oral care at a young age is an investment in their health that will pay lifelong dividends. You can start by setting an example; taking good care of your own teeth sends a message that oral health is something to be valued. And anything that makes taking care of teeth fun, like brushing along with your child or letting them choose their own toothbrush, encourages proper oral care.

The cases of early childhood decay in small children is rising, but there is good news: tooth decay can be prevented with proper education and preventative care. While convincing your child to take better care of his or her teeth isn’t easy, below are a list of suggestions and ideas to share with your child to help keep their teeth and mouth healthy and strong.

 

1BRUSH: Encourage your child to brush their teeth at least twice a day for two minutes each time, using no more than a pea-size amount of fluoride toothpaste. Using a childsize soft-bristle toothbrush, brush the front, back, inner and outer surfaces and tops of their teeth, as well as their tongue, with short, gentle, back-and-forth motions.

2EAT: Nutritious foods are an important part of keeping children’s smiles healthy and their teeth strong. Foods such as fruits, vegetables and cheese help build strong, healthy teeth and gums.

3FLOSS: Have children gently floss once a day to remove food that can get stuck between their teeth and sticky plaque that forms on their teeth. Brushing alone cannot reach all of the surfaces on a tooth.

4AVOID: Try to avoid overindulging in sticky and sugary foods. Eat a well-balanced diet that limits starchy or sugary foods, which produce plaque acids that cause tooth decay. When they do eat these foods, include them with their meal instead of as a snack-the extra saliva produced during a meal helps rinse food from the mouth. When kids do have a special treat, make sure they brush and floss afterwards.

5ROUTINE: Remember to get regular dental checkups. Have them visit twice a year to make sure that they are taking good care of their teeth and gums. The dental team will check for cavities and 

 

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