Your Children’s Dental Health.

Did you know that half of American children suffer from tooth decay? As well, tooth decay can lead to a myriad of problems.

The good news is that it can be prevented. 

The only way to turn this around is by getting your child to the dentist every now and then. Tooth decay results from acid from the foods you eat, saliva that isn’t neutralized, and bacteria that grows beyond your control. 

The most common places for tooth decay to form are on the back of the teeth, the side of the teeth, and the tongue, where the teeth are not visible. To prevent it, you need to keep your child’s mouth clean, use dental hygiene products, brush their teeth twice a day and get a check-up once every six months – or sooner if your child shows any signs of tooth decay. Here are seven ways you can improve your child’s dental health:

Change your child’s diet.

Limiting the number of sugary foods and drinks your child consumes is one of the best ways to prevent tooth decay. This includes things like soda, juice, candy, and other sweets. The more sugar in your child’s diet, the higher their risk of tooth decay. Don’t give your child too much sugar.

Sugar is a leading cause of tooth decay. It’s important not to give your child too much sugar or sugary drinks like juice. The World Health Organization recommends that your child’s daily sugar intake be less than 10 grams (or six teaspoons) per day.

Include more fruits and vegetables and milk to drink to help support healthy bones and teeth.

Brush your child’s teeth

To avoid tooth decay, you need to brush your child’s teeth twice a day. The first time should be in the morning, and the second time should be before bed–ideally with fluoride toothpaste.

Get your child to a dentist.

The first way to improve your child’s dental health is to get them in for a dental check-up as soon as possible. Children should see a dentist from the moment they get their first tooth – between 6 months and one years of age. The dentist will be able to determine if they need restoration, braces, or other corrective treatments.

Use fluoride toothpaste

One of the best ways to keep your child’s teeth healthy is by brushing with fluoride toothpaste. Fluoride is a mineral found naturally in water and some foods. It helps prevent tooth decay and strengthens teeth. To ensure that you’re getting the right amount of fluoride, check the packaging to see if it has 0.8% or more of the ingredient by weight. If it does, your child is getting enough for their daily needs. It’s important to note that children under three years old should only be given a pea-sized amount of toothpaste as they may swallow too much at once, which could lead to a gastrointestinal reaction.

Fluoride helps reduce the ability of bacteria to form a film on your teeth and keeps bacteria from sticking to your teeth which is why it is used in toothpaste and recommended by dentists across the world.

Floss once a day

The best way to keep your child’s mouth clean is to floss once daily. When you floss, you remove food particles and plaque from between the teeth where brushing can’t reach. This prevents tooth decay, but it also helps prevent bad breath or halitosis. If your child has braces or other dental appliances on their teeth, you will need to use special flossing tools designed for the specific device they have on their teeth.

If you prefer not to use traditional dental floss or your child doesn’t like to use it, why not try an electric water flosser that sprays jets of water into the mouth and works the same way traditional dental tape does. This method may not suit younger children, but older kids or teens can easily use a water flosser.

The water jets get in between the teeth to remove stuck food debris and plaque build-up. Find out more information at instafloss.com.

Rinse their mouth after eating

One of the most common ways to prevent tooth decay is by rinsing your child’s mouth after eating. This is an excellent practice to get into for anyone of any age, so starting young can instill this as a habit from early on. It’s also a good idea to brush their teeth immediately after eating or drinking anything containing sugar, like juice, soda, or chewing gum. Continue this process until they are two years old at least.

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