How Kids Should Take Care Of Their Teeth

The best way to best prevent tooth decay and gum disease is for children to brush and floss regularly, of course, but what is the best way for them to avoid the drill?

Preventing Plaque:
To truly prevent cavities successfully children need to remove the transparent layer of bacteria that coats the teeth known as plaque. You may achieve this by brushing twice a day and flossing at least once. It helps to find a routine. You should have your children floss at the time they get ready for bed or the time they get ready in the morning. Developing a habit will make it easier for them to get in the habit of flossing for the long term.
Brushing teeth stimulates the gums and that helps prevent gum disease. As such, brushing and flossing are the most important things a child can do to keep teeth and gums healthy.

Fluoride also bolsters oral health. Many towns add fluoride to the drinking water, but be careful, not all do. If there is no fluoride in your town's water supply than your dentist may recommend that your child (and you) take it as a supplement. Also, be sure your child's toothpaste contains fluoride. That should be the toothpaste's principal ingredient. Yes, toothpastes often contain many other ingredients, like foaming agents, detergents, and abrasives. But the key is fluoride.

How Tarter Differs from Plaque:
About 10 percent of children have a tendency to accumulate tarter quickly. Tarter is plaque that is hardened and is as a result more damaging. Children should use mouthwash appropriate for their age and they should spend extra time brushing the teeth closer to the salivary glands (the inside of the lower front teeth and the outside of the upper back teeth). This will help impede tartar's stronghold.

Sensitivity:
If your children, like many, have teeth that are susceptive to heat and cold and pressure they may require a specific, dentist-recommended solution for their teeth: talk to your dentist about proper care and prevention. They will be able to give you the best tips on taking care of your child's teeth for the long haul. And, the earlier you can instill habits that are responsible and healthful the better.

Quick Brushing Tip:
Dental professionals recommend that children spend at least two minutes brushing teeth, twice per day. They recommend that they hold the brush at a 45-degreee angle against your gum line and then gently brush down from the base of the tooth (near the gum line) upward in short strokes. Don't do it too hard but do it convincingly enough to break up plaque.