Teaching your child proper oral care at a young age will contribute to his health for a lifetime. You can start by example. Taking good care of your own teeth sends the message that oral health is something to be valued. Anything that makes dental care fun; For example, brushing with your child or letting him choose his own toothbrush encourages good oral care.
To help your children protect their teeth and gums and significantly reduce their risk of getting cavities, teach them to follow these simple steps:
Brush your teeth twice a day to remove plaque—the sticky layer on your teeth—that is the main cause of cavities. Floss your teeth every day to remove plaque from between your teeth and below the gumline before it hardens into tartar. Once tartar has formed, it can only be removed with a professional cleaning. Choose a well-balanced diet that limits the starchy and sugary foods that produce the plaque acids that cause tooth decay. When you eat these foods, try to eat them with your food, not as a snack, because the excess saliva produced during the meal helps to clean the food from the mouth. Use dental products that contain fluoride, including toothpaste. Make sure your child’s drinking water has added fluoride. If your water—main, spring, or bottled water—does not contain fluoride, your dentist or pediatrician may prescribe a daily fluoride supplement. Take your child to the dentist for regular checkups.
