Blog

Oral Hygiene Tips for Kids

By Chayo P March 17, 2016
Keeping children’s teeth clean can be challenging; young ones aren’t as diligent about their oral hygiene routines as adults and don’t understand why it’s so important to brush and floss twice a day. We know that setting up good health habits at a young age is vital to a lifetime of good oral health, so try these tips to help your kids get clean and healthy smiles:

Help them Keep Time – You’re supposed to brush your teeth for about two minutes, but this feels like an eternity for fidgety young ones. Help your kids get a sense of how long they should be brushing their teeth by playing a song while they do it, and encourage them to keep brushing the whole time the music is playing.

Teach Technique – Let your child know that the best way to brush teeth is with gentle circles, and that they shouldn’t be too hard on their gums. If they have questions, let them see how you brush and floss for an example of what to do – and let your kids see that this is a routine you practice each morning and every night.

Give Them a Helping Hand – For smaller children, the dexterity it takes to skillfully brush teeth might be hard to manage. If this is the case for your child, have them lie down with their head in your lap and take over the brushing duties for them.

Avoid Sticky, Sugary Foods – Any snack that has a sticky quality can more easily attach itself to your child’s teeth and contribute to tooth decay. Additionally, sugary drinks and foods also increase acid production that promotes decay. The best food and drink choices are fresh foods -- sliced fruit, veggies,and nuts. Drinks with added sugar, like soda and sports drinks, should be avoided when possible. By protecting your children from decay on baby teeth, you can ensure that their overall oral health gets a boost.

Bring them in to see the Dentist – Keeping up regular hygiene appointments for kids is just as important as it is for adults. By bringing your children into our dental office every 6 months, we can make sure that your children’s teeth and gums are healthy. If there does happen to be a problem, we’re able to take care of it as soon as possible, avoiding complications down the road.

We’re here to help your children have healthy teeth and beautiful smiles for life. If you have any questions about children’s dentistry, don’t hesitate to call our Tulsa kid’s dental office for a consultation. 
Category:
Tags: