Oral Hygiene For Kids || Tips to Care For Your Child’s Teeth?
While having a little bundle of joy is a happiness, it does come with many challenges. You will ensure your child is eating the correct meals, getting enough sleep and playtime, and meeting developmental milestones, among other things. So, It’s easy to ignore oral hygiene when there’s a big list of things to keep your child healthy and happy.
Caring for your Children’s teeth at an early stage sets up good dental habits for life. Whether kids are small or elder, Oral Hygiene is essential for every kid. Parents should find different ways to teach their children to brush. We have explained some important things to do for your children’s Oral Hygiene.
When Should Kids Start Brushing Their Teeth?
Baby teeth are just as essential as permanent teeth later in life. But, unfortunately, they’re just as prone to dental decay, which can lead to pain & gum disease. Aside from tooth decay, neglecting your infant’s oral health can result in them losing their baby teeth too soon. So, when should you start thinking about your child’s oral health? Technically, you should begin when they are born. Surprised?
Even if an infant does not have teeth, their gums must be kept clean. The bacteria-causing carbohydrates in formula and breast milk can easily hurt their gums. So, what should you do?
- After each meal, make sure you wipe their gums, cheeks, and tongue with a clean, moist towel.
- And it’s time to get your child’s first toothbrush after their first tooth develops!
So, have you heard of the rubber brush? Yes, this is it. Get this first toothbrush for your baby that fits over your pointer finger. It contains small rubber bristles that gently clean your child’s teeth and gums while also reaching some difficult-to-reach areas.
Some Points To Consider For Child’s Oral Hygiene
Encourage Them For Brushing
The first thing to do is explain why brushing is important for their teeth. Children are more likely to go for oral hygiene if it’s enjoying part of a daily routine. For example, you can sing ‘This is the way we brush our teeth, brush our teeth, brush our teeth, so early in the morning’ while you’re brushing or tell them stories about germs that can cause their teeth and brush is a hero which can kill that germs. If you have an infant with tiny teeth, you can wipe up his/her mouth yourself.
Get Less Flouride Toothpaste
You should choose low-fluoride toothpaste for your child under 18 months. Fluoride is a safe mineral that keeps teeth strong and prevents tooth decay. It’s good to have very small amounts throughout the day in the form of fluoridated tap water, foods and drinks containing fluoride, and low-fluoride toothpaste, or you can go with the recommendation of your dentist.
Choose Toothbrush Wisely
An attractive brush can lead your child to brush his/ her teeth. There are so many options in the market for kids’ brushes, cartoon character brushes, electric brushes, timer brushes, etc. choose a cartoon character toothbrush that is a favorite of your child, and don’t forget to choose a soft bristle brush for healthy teeth. The head of the toothbrush should be small to fit in the mouth and clean every part of the mouth.
Brush Twice
Help your child with brushing until they learn how to clean their teeth themself. Tell them to brush twice a day, morning and night, and supervise them too so that the brush removes all the plaque—the soft, sticky, germs- containing deposits that accumulate on the teeth, causing tooth decay. Tell them to clean their gums and tongue properly. Flossing is another key part of your child’s Oral Hygiene Routine. Teach your child to floss at least once a day. Buy floss that comes on a handle to make it easier for kids. Also, keep an eye out for areas of brown or white spots that might be signs of early tooth decay.
Track Sugar Intake
Besides regular oral hygiene, sugar intake plays a vital role in healthy teeth. Kids love sugary things like chocolates, candies, cakes, ice creams; I mean, We all like these things. But these can cause children teeth in so many ways so, After eating any sugar meal, tell them to clean their mouth. However, gums that contain sugar can cause cavities. So cut out the amount of sugar gum intake that your child chews or give them sugar-free gum.
Dental Checkups
One of the things to do in Oral Hygiene is a dental checkup. Parents should take their children to a dentist every month or quarterly a year. This should be followed for every age group of children. The dentist will ensure all teeth are developing normally and there are no dental problems and give you further advice on proper hygiene. Also, read here why Nurturing Self Esteem in Kids Is Important?
Little More To Do
We gathered some more points to be considered in your child’s Oral Hygiene.
Here as follows
- Let children choose their favorite toothbrushes.
- Watch videos or read books that talk about Oral Hygiene.
- Use a timer to make sure kids brush their teeth for 2 minutes.
- Reward your children for good oral care. Do not give them sugary treats. Offer something healthy.
- Plan a fun activity following your child’s dentist visit.
- Too much fluoride can cause teeth issues and be harmful to your child’s health. Be sure your child does not swallow toothpaste.
- After brushing, rinse the toothbrush with tap water.
- Keep the toothbrush upright in an open container to allow it to air-dry.
- You should replace your kid’s toothbrushes every 2-3 months or when the bristles get worn or frayed.
- Fizzy drinks also contain acids that can harm the outer surface of the tooth, So avoid giving these to your kids.
Words From Author
So these are things to be considered while taking care of oral hygiene. It’s important to look after your child’s baby teeth if you want them to have a healthy mouth. You can ensure that your child’s permanent teeth emerge as healthy and straight as possible by following simple daily brushing and flossing practices. Also, check here What to Do When Your Child Has a Cavity.
