Six Habits to Help Keep Your Kids’ Teeth Healthy

Keeping your kids’ teeth healthy and free from decay is one of the best gifts you can give them. Your child’s dental care is just as critical as caring for their overall health. Proper dental care not only helps to prevent the development of cavities but also helps your kids develop of a positive self-image.

This article presents six habits to help keep your children’s teeth healthy:

Teach them the importance of good dental habits

Right off the bat, it’s important to explain to your kids why they need to brush their teeth and maintain good dental hygiene. You want your children to start thinking about oral health as early as possible.

Also, keep in check their consumption of sugary foods and acidic drinks to uphold good dental health. Teaching your kids about the right foods and beverages to consume will impart healthy habits that will help keep dental problems at bay. 

Brush and floss twice a day

According to experts, kids should brush and floss twice a day, just like adults. Make this practice part of their morning and evening routine. You want your kids to get conditioned that those are brushing and flossing times.

It’s a good idea to choose a themed toothbrush and toothpaste to inject some fun into the practice. Be sure the brushing lasts two minutes. You can play a two-minute song that your kids love, instead of setting a timer, to make brushing exciting.

If the child is below two years of age, it’s advisable to hold the toothbrush yourself. The best time for kids to start flossing is immediately when two adjacent teeth come in contact. Also, remember to use the right amount of fluoride for the child’s age. If you aren’t sure, your pediatric dentist can advise you on the right amount.

Avoid chewing on non-food items

Children normally can’t keep things out of their mouth—especially when they start developing teeth. Chewing on non-food objects, including teething rings, help them to manage the pain associated with teeth development.

Some children are also fond of sucking their fingers, especially the thumb.  Thumb sucking can result in misalignment of your child’s front teeth. To avoid such dental issues, you should dissuade your child from chewing hard objects, including hard candies and ice.

Hard objects can make their teeth unstable or even break them. While sucking and chewing can have a soothing effect on the child’s developing teeth, you should stop the habit by the time your child celebrates their fourth birthday to avert long-term damage. 

Keep dental appointments

You should visit your dentist at least once every six months and be sure to involve your kids. Engaging your kids in your regular dental visits will help them make it a ritual. It’s worth noting that your kids should have their first dental visit before their first birthday or within six months after their first tooth emerges, whichever comes first.

Encourage the consumption of fruits and vegetables

Nutrition contributes significantly to having strong, healthy teeth. Encourage your children to snack on nutritious and fibrous foods such as vegetables and fruits. This not only helps in keeping their teeth clean but also building strong teeth and bones.

Replace soda and sugary drinks with green tea

Soda is one of the major causes of tooth staining and decay. Consider replacing it with green tea. With green tea, older kids can still get a bit of caffeine without worrying about their teeth getting stained. Green tea is also effective in minimizing the risk of dental decay, according to some experts.

In Conclusion

Gifting your kids with good dental health is one of the best things you can do to promote their well being. These six tips will take you a long way into achieving that.