Cavities or also known as tooth/teeth decay is one of the most chronic yet entirely preventable dental diseases. Children with good oral hygiene have a lower risk and can entirely prevent tooth decay. That’s why it’s imperative that kids establish healthy oral habits sooner rather than later.
This is one of the main reasons why parents and their caretakers play an important role to ensure this happens. Your consistent effort today to help your kids develop good oral health habits will pay off with a lifetime of oral health.
Tips to Establish Good Oral Hygiene Habits with Kids
- Nearly one in five children under the age of 5 has experienced tooth decay according to the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry (AAPD). Good dental habits and regular dental visits starting by age 1 (or when the first teeth pop through the gums) can slow or reverse the tooth decay process in children.
- Wiping your infant’s gums with a clean cloth 2 times a day before their teeth start to breakthrough. brushing of teeth starts thereafter with a soft bristle brush morning and evening.
- Children should visit the dentist no later than their first birthday (or as soon as teeth break through gums).
- First just any other habit, repetition is key when trying to establish good oral hygiene habits.
- Parents or caregivers need to monitor tooth brushing and flossing for children under the age of six. Kids this age should only use a pea-sized amount of toothpaste.
- It’s important to show children how to brush along the gum line of their teeth to keep gums healthy.
- Make sure your child has mastered tooth brushing before expecting them to be proficient at flossing. Focus on one thing at a time until they get it down. Typically, children under the age of ten will still need help flossing.
- Model good oral health habits yourself. As with so many things in parenting, kids will act like you before they will do what you say. Make sure you model good oral health habits by brushing twice a day and flossing.
- Make sure to buy toothpaste with fluoride, fluoride has proven to have good effects on your teeth.