How to Teach Children to Care for Their Teeth

A major part of dental care is prevention. The best way to prevent any sort of decay or oral health problems is through good oral hygiene. And good oral hygiene is best started at a young age.

The earlier a child learns to take care of their teeth and not fear the dentist, the more likely they are to enjoy a healthy mouth throughout their life. And a healthy mouth leads to a good quality of life.

But why worry about children’s teeth?

In addition to creating good habits, taking care of baby teeth plays an important role in ensuring their adult teeth are healthy. Baby teeth help children learn to speak and process food. They also hold a space for adult teeth. If a child loses baby teeth to decay the surrounding teeth tend to shift, which ultimately crowds adult teeth and leads to issues with their bite and alignment.

This can result in a need for expensive orthodontic work.

There are several components to a good oral hygiene routine for children.

Brushing

It’s important that children are taught to brush twice a day for two minutes at a time. Brushing helps to get rid of plaque build up that ultimately leads to decay. The more often you brush the less food and plaque particles around for bacteria to feed off of. The fewer bacteria the less decay.

Flossing

While brushing is important for getting the surface of your teeth and tongue, the tight spaces between your teeth and around your gums should be taken care of through flossing once a day. Children should learn to floss around the base of their teeth, between teeth, and at the back where food tends to build up and it’s harder for your toothbrush to reach.

Dentist Appointments

Many people fear the dentist and as a result completely ignore their oral health by skipping visits. When this happens more serious issues tend to come up and require lengthier and more expensive treatments.

By taking your child to the dentist twice a year you’ll get them used to see her and also ensure their teeth are being cleaned professionally on a regular basis. Be sure to schedule an appointment with Dr. Toyer if your child is in need of a cleaning.

Diet

What your child eats plays a huge part in their oral health. Feed them a healthy diet of lean proteins, fruits, and veggies and avoid processed carbs, sugars, and soft drinks. Starting them with a healthy diet early on will keep their teeth healthy and also help to keep their weight in check as they get older.

April Toyer, DDS, FAAPD

The team at Lifetime Dental Care brings a full range of services to patients in and around the Woodbridge, VA area. These four doctors bring a range of experience, diverse backgrounds, and professional knowledge together to provide families with a safe and friendly home for their oral health needs.