Imagine being able to prevent major dental issues for your family, simply by instilling healthy dental hygiene into their daily routine. Of course, there is no guarantee that they will not experience problems at some point. But, even those problems can be lessened with proper long term care.
So, I am going to share with you some information that I have learned along the way, as well as found through my research, on how you can increase the odds for your children to have a healthy and beautiful smile.
Tip #1 Starting as Early Possible
Of course the earlier you can get your kids on a healthy routine, the better. You can even start while they are an infant. Even though their teeth are not visible yet, you can still take steps to protect them. By rubbing their gums with a clean and damp cloth after feedings, it will stop bacteria from forming on the gums and damaging the teeth.
After the teeth start pushing through, you should start brushing with a soft bristled brush specifically created for infants. Make sure to use toothpaste designed specifically for infants as well. If you are a little nervous about using one, simply use water and the brush.
Even though your children might be beyond the infant stage, it’s still important to start your dental routines as soon as possible. Never assume it’s too late to start one.
Tip #2 A Healthy Daily Routine
Let’s start with brushing, since that is something we all do without thought. Encourage your children to brush after each meal, when possible. If they are at school or away from home in general, it’s not as easy. However, it’s also not impossible with the disposable mini-brushes with a ‘dab’ of toothpaste built right in.
Flossing is an area that might not be as habitual as brushing. However, it should be done with every brushing, as it can to get to the foods and plaque that the brush cannot reach. Food particles and plaque can lead to yellowing and even tooth decay.
One area I think many of us falter on, even though it’s incredibly quick and easy, is rinsing. We should be doing this with each brushing, and after every drink or snack. Even if you rinse with water, swish it around for about 30 seconds to rinse out leftover particles.
Tips #3 Healthy Snacks to Protect and Naturally Whiten
There are obvious snacks that we are all warned about when it comes to our teeth…you know…the sugary treats we can’t seem to keep our kids away from. But, they should be able to snack once in a while. In fact, it’s recommended we have a light snack a couple times a day to prevent over-eating at meal time.
However, some crunchy snacks are not only a good option to staying away from sugar, but also can be beneficial to your teeth. The crunchiness will loosen plaque and help remove stains, an actual natural teeth whitening trick used by many people.
Here are some examples of the snacks that can help your teeth:
- Apples
- Cauliflower
- Celery
- Carrots
They say “an apple a day helps keep the doctor away”. Maybe it will help prevent unexpected visits and treatments at the dentist office as well.
Tip #4 Regular Visits to the Dentist
While the goal is to avoid costly and unexpected trips to the dentist, it’s not to eliminate regular visits all together. By going to the dentist a couple times a year, they will be able to professionally clean your teeth, getting rid of plaque that even the best daily routine can’t eliminate.
Your dentist will also be able to detect changes in your mouth and possibly ward off major dental concerns if they were to go undetected for a long period of time. Take for example; a cavity can go from something minor, to needing a crown if you let it go. A word of caution, cavities in young children tend to grow much quicker than in an adult.
The first dentist appointment for a child should be when they get their first tooth, and then twice a year thereafter.
In Closing
Hopefully the above 4 tips will encourage you to instill healthy dental habits for your children. If they brush, floss, and rinse on a regular basis, it will become second nature to them in no time. Of course, they might need a little encouragement early on with a reward system, similar to an allowance for household chores. Think of it this way, it could be a lot cheaper than excessive dental bills for poor dental hygiene.
As a freelance author, Jason Munroe knows his career gets a boost from researching the Internet, which he discovered back in 2003. Currently, he is in the middle of writing a series of articles on family and child dentistry with the help of a Vancouver BC dentist and her website, www.drdbird.com. Jason often surfs the Internet, looking for great buys and deals to share with his readers, as well as seeking tips for future projects.