Your child’s smile will shine through every birthday party and family picture throughout the years. Their smile defines their facial features and contributes to healthy self-esteem. Taking care of their smile is a daily job, however. When it comes to oral hygiene for kids, we recommend several strategies and products that contribute to a fantastic smile. From baby to wisdom teeth, your child will have an evolving smile until they reach adulthood. Take care of that smile with these simple tips.
Get Started Early
Your child’s oral hygiene should begin when they’re babies. Using a gentle, finger toothbrush, massage the baby’s gums and emerging teeth. As your baby grows into a toddler, graduate to a larger toothbrush and guide their brushing technique with your hands. Ideally, your first trip to the dentist should be when the child has most of their baby teeth in place. The dentist will only perform basic cleaning procedures and verify that the teeth are healthy and properly growing. Don’t underestimate the importance of baby teeth. Some parents believe that oral hygiene isn’t important at this point because baby teeth are eventually lost. However, these teeth make space for the adult ones as they slide into place.
Shop for Toothbrushes Together
When your child is old enough for their first real toothbrush, take them shopping for one. When kids are actively involved with their personal hygiene, they’re more inclined to continue with healthy habits. Allow your child to pick out a toothbrush that they like, such as a product with a favourite character or color. Every morning and night, your child will be happy to pull out their toothbrush and use it. Because you should replace the toothbrush every three months, take your child shopping again and ask them to pick out a different product. Because they’re rewarded with a new toothbrush on a regular basis, kids will be excited to brush their teeth every day.
Incorporating Electric Toothbrushes Into Daily Life
If you’ve never tried an electric toothbrush, it’s time to buy one and experience the difference it can make in your child’s oral hygiene. These toothbrushes vibrate at a specific speed to mimic the brushing sensation. If a child has problems cleaning their teeth effectively, an electric toothbrush might be your answer. These products also come in various colours and styles. Because they have battery power, other features are usually incorporated into the toothbrush. There might be a timer that tells the child when the two-minute brushing period is over. Some models even offer timers for every 30 seconds so that kids brush each tooth section for an equal amount of time.
Teach Them How to Floss
Flossing is often overlooked by parents who’re trying to concentrate on brushing alone. Teach your kids to floss by showing them the process. Kids may not realize how much food becomes stuck in between the teeth. Because standard dental floss may be too difficult to handle with young children, look for flossers that have a handle. Kids can easily maneuver these flossers between the teeth and develop a healthy habit. Flossing should be performed once a day, and parents should supervise young children until they have a strong handle on the flossing process.
The Water-Flosser Alternative
Many children aren’t excited by the flossing process, so parents have an alternative with a water flosser. These devices are wands connected to a small, water tank. With the flip of a switch, water streams out of the wand and acts as a flosser. Kids hold the flosser to their teeth, and food particles are quickly washed away. Most water flossers come with a power adjustment for the stream’s strength. Sensitive gums in young children often require a low-power stream. Older kids can use the high-power stream as their adult teeth come in.
Proper Mouthwash Use
In general, young children should abstain from using mouthwash. Kids may not be able to gargle the liquid and swallow it instead. When you feel that your child is ready, give them a demonstration on proper mouthwash use. The liquid should be gargled for about 20 to 30 seconds and spit out. Look for “kid-friendly” mouthwashes that don’t have too many harsh ingredients. If kids perceive the mouthwash process as painful, they won’t incorporate it into their usual habits. Many mouthwashes have several flavours, such as grape or strawberry.
Whitening Toothpastes
As children’s adult teeth grow in, they can become slightly yellow over time. One of the simplest ways to keep those teeth pearly white is by using whitening toothpastes. Although these products aren’t substitutes for professional whitening, they still help children with a minimal bleaching process. Their adult teeth can remain as white as possible with frequent brushing and dental appointments. Ask your children about their toothpaste from time to time, however. If the kids complain about discomfort after brushing, try a different whitening product. Some products have some strong ingredients, such as baking soda, that can irritate young mouths.
Reserving Advanced Whitening Kits for the Permanent Teeth
Some of the best whitening products come in kit form. When you purchase a kit, you’ll receive a tray with the whitening product. In most cases, you’ll wear the tray overnight in your mouth as the whitening product has a chance to bleach your teeth over several hours. These kits were usually designed for adults, but kids can use them too. Ideally, whiten your child’s teeth when all of the permanent teeth are in. Pre-teens and teenagers are perfect candidates for these kits because they’re old enough to keep the tray in place all night long.
Dental Care Twice a Year
Regardless of your brushing and flossing frequency, it’s critical to visit the dentist at least twice a year. Children have growing jaws and developing teeth that require constant supervision. Dentists will take X-rays, clean and polish the teeth. There might be extractions involved so that the adult teeth have room to move into place. Straight teeth depend on spacing between the baby teeth at first. Dental professionals might suggest a different brushing technique or a specific brush to use too. With professional help and daily oral hygiene, kids will have a smile that lasts them their entire lives.
Considering Braces
Kids as young as eight years old might visit an orthodontist for braces. Parents might believe that braces are merely for appearance’s sake, but they truly offer better oral hygiene. With crooked teeth, they can’t be brushed very thoroughly. As a result, cavities and other damage might be prevalent. Braces also encourages further oral hygiene because kids need to brush and floss around the brackets and wires. After the braces are off, kids will have straight teeth that are easier to care for as they grow into adulthood.
If your child will be playing sports, we recommend that they wear protective dental coverings. Your dentist can suggest and create a mouth guard for your child to wear exclusively during sports. If any impacts occur, the teeth will be protected. Losing or cracking teeth only mars the smile and creates more dental problems in the future. Protect those emerging adult teeth, and kids will smile well into their adult years.
