If you teach proper oral hygiene to your kids at a young age, you’re really making an investment in the future of you all. Having your children brush and floss properly starting out early in life may minimize the number of cavities they get and will help to promote good oral hygiene throughout their entire lives. And by modeling good brushing and flossing, you’re teaching your kids about healthy dental hygiene habits.

How to Teach Dental Hygiene to Kids

By following some simple steps, you can help your kids take good care of their teeth and gums.

• Brush twice a day with a fluoride toothpaste that’s approved by the ADA (American Dental Association) to remove plaque.

• Floss daily to remove plaque from between your teeth and under the gum line. Plaque, when not removed, will harden and form into tartar, and tartar can only be removed during a professional teeth cleaning.

• Eat a well-balanced diet (low in sugary and starchy foods); these types of foods cause the plaque acids that cause tooth decay.

• Use dental products that contain fluoride.

• Make sure that your children’s drinking water has fluoride in it.

• Go to the dentist for regular check-ups.

Fluoride is one of the best things to help prevent tooth decay; fluoride is a naturally occurring mineral that works with the tooth’s enamel to strengthen it. In many municipal water supplies, the right amount of fluoride is added for proper tooth development. If your water supply does not contain enough (or any at all) fluoride, your child’s pediatrician or dentist may suggest using fluoride drops or a mouth rinse in addition to a fluoride toothpaste. If you have questions about fluoride, please ask Dr. Jeff Johnston, general and cosmetic dentist in the Denver area.

Brushing technique is quite important when it comes to good dental hygiene. Here are some tips to help you teach your children the proper way to brush and floss:

• Use a pea-sized amount of fluoride toothpaste, and teach your child the importance of not swallowing the toothpaste.

• Using a soft-bristled toothbrush, brush the inside surface of each tooth first, where plaque may accumulate most.

• Clean the outer surfaces of each tooth. Angle the brush along the outer gum line and gently brush back and forth.

• Gently brush the chewing surface of each tooth.

• Use the tip of the brush to clean behind each front tooth, both top and bottom.

• Brush the tongue.

To learn more about how to promote good dental hygiene in children, please contact Ascent Dental Group today.