Want to Keep Your Kids Cavity-free?

No parent wants to see his or her child in pain, particularly from avoidable problems like dental cavities. Sadly, nearly one third of school-aged children in America will struggle with dental decay, even though it is avoidable with proper preventive care. While brushing is a good start, there are actually several steps you can and should be taking to help protect your kids’ smiles. That way, they can continue to enjoy dental comfort, and you can continue enjoying their cavity-free smiles!

Make Sure They’re Really Brushing, and Flossing, Daily!

Twice daily tooth brushing is important to keeping the smile clean, but flossing is also essential. Otherwise portions of the teeth, in the small crevices between teeth where brush bristles can’t reach, can remain unclean, allowing tartar to buildup.

Most school-aged children have the dexterity needed to brush their teeth on their own. That said, it’s usually best to supervise their dental care, until you can trust that they won’t swallow toothpaste, or simply wet the brush and put it back.

A few ways to make brushing fun, including letting each child pick her or his own toothbrush. Also, give them a timer or use a song they like to signify how long they should be brushing, which is two minutes, by the way.

Take Them for Routine Cleanings

Of course, dental care at-home is no substitute for regular professional cleanings. Routine dental appointments are necessary to remove plaque buildup once it has calcified onto the teeth.

For kids and adults, dentists recommend bi-annual visits, to check for burgeoning issues like cavities. One easy way to make this happen is by scheduling your kids’ dental visits during Christmas and summer breaks, so they don’t miss school, but still keep their smiles clean.