It is no secret that children have a hard time caring for their teeth. Parents might take their child to the dentist often and become discouraged with the decay and the problems the child is experiencing. Luckily, there are some things that the parent can do to ensure that the child is properly caring for their dental hygiene. Here are some tips.
1. Parents Brush For The Child Until The Child Is Older
Learning to brush your teeth can be a real challenge. Many children think they are ready to brush their own teeth, but do a poor job of actually getting them cleaned. For this reason, parents should always brush for the child while the child is young. It is not until the child reaches pre-teens that you should allow them to brush unsupervised. The young child can practice brushing their own teeth when they are little, but after the child has had a turn, the parent needs to brush again to make sure it is done correctly.
In addition, have the child brush in circular motions rather than back and forth. The circular motions will help to keep the gums healthy as well as clean the teeth.
2. Use Fluoride Rinse
Another good option is to have the child rinse with fluoride. Many states and counties do not have fluoride in their water, which means that the child isn't getting enough fluoride in their formative years. The fluoride usually helps with the health of their permanent teeth, but doesn't necessarily affect the baby teeth. So even though the child may have cavities in their baby teeth, the fluoride will help to create healthier permanent teeth when they do come in.
The fluoride rinse should be used after the child has brushed their teeth, and once they use the rinse they shouldn't eat or drink anything, not even water, so that the rinse can sit on the teeth overnight.
3. As Soon As Teeth Touch, Start Flossing
When the baby teeth come in, they will be far apart and have plenty of space. This means that there is no need for flossing, so long as the teeth are not touching. However, what many parents don't realize is that the molars are touching earlier than they realize and so they fail to floss. This causes cavities in the back of the mouth that could have easily been prevented by flossing.
By doing these simple things parents can help to keep their children's teeth healthy. For additional advice, contact a pediatric dentist at a location such as New England Dental Specialists of Norwood.
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