Good dental hygiene habits at home are just as important as bi-annual visits to a hygienist for a cleaning. Dr. Richards recommends the industry-standard twice-daily brushing and daily flossing. When your child is still growing, help them brush and floss to show them proper techniques for when they’re old enough to do it on their own. This will help prevent tooth decay, periodontal disease, and other oral health issues.

Children do not have the manual dexterity to brush their teeth on their own until they are between the ages of 8 and 10 years old. Therefore, it is imperative that an adult brushes your child’s teeth until this age, especially at night when saliva production is lower, leaving their teeth less protected against harmful bacteria.

Toothpastes have only gotten better with time, incorporating new teeth-strengthening ingredients like fluoride to better clean and protect growing teeth. Many mouth rinses also incorporate fluoride now as well, to better get cover hard to reach spots.

There are also habits you should work to instill when it comes to eating and drinking. Encourage your child to have a drink of water after meals to wash away sugars from foods and drinks. Encourage them to wait thirty minutes before brushing to allow their saliva time to neutralize any acids in their mouths and protect their teeth. 

Keeping your children’s teeth strong and beautiful is a top priority. If you need advice on how to help your child’s dental routine be the best it can be, contact us today.